Abstract:
The present study was carried out from November 2008 to March 2009 in and around Hawassa town
to identify and determine the prevalence of helminth species and its associated risk factors in Horses. For this
purpose, a total of 190 fecal samples were collected randomly from naturally infected horses for examination of
the presence of helminth parasites. The overall prevalence of different types of helminth eggs and helminth
species in this study were 97.9 %. 4 horses were free from any parasites (2.1%) and mixed infections were
detected in 83.2% of horses. From fecal examinations those animals infected with one, two, three and four types
of parasite were: 28 (14.7%), 56 (29.5%), 68 (35.8%), 34 (17.9%), respectively. The parasites encountered were
85(44.7%), 70 (36.8%), 31 (16.3%), 65 (34.2%), 106 (55.8%), 54 (28.4%), 63 (33.2%) and 7 (3.7%) were positive for
Strongylus vulgaris, Strongyle edentatus, Strongyle equines, Oxyrus equi, Parascaris equorum, Strongyloides
westeri, Triodonthophorus tencollis and Dictyocaulus arnfieldi, respectively There was statistical significant
difference (P<0.05) in prevalence of S. edentatus, S. equines and T. tencollis between the body conditions as
examined by coproscopy. There was statistically no significant difference (p>0.05) in prevalence of Strongyle
vulgaris, Oxyrus equi, Parascaris equerum, S. westeri and D. arnifielde within the body conditions.
Statistically significance differences in prevalence of all the listed parasites among the age groups were not
observed (P>0.05) as examined by coproscopy.. From this study it can be concluded that body condition can
be considered as one of the important factors which influence the occurrence of some helminth parasites in
horses. It is recommended that owners should be trained to improve the management system, especially in terms
of the level of nutrition so that the animal can have good body condition that confers some level of resistance
against helminthes infection.
