Prevalence of Equinehelminthiasis in Gedeb Hasassa District, Arsi Zone, South Eastern Ethiopia

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2014 to March 2015 with the objectives ofassessing the prevalence of equine helminthiasis and the associated risk factors in Gedeb Hasessa district. A total of 384 equines faecal samples were collected from horses (249), donkeys (99) and mules (36) and qualitative coprological fecalexamination were used for identification of eggs of helminthes. The overall prevalence of equine helminthiasis was 72.14% with the occurrence rate of 79.8%, 72.22% and 69.1 % in donkeys, mules and horses, respectively. Significant differences in prevalence were observed among age groups and body condition scores of equines (P<0.05). Qualitative fecal egg analysis revealed the highest prevalence of Strongyles spp (48.5%) and the least prevalence of Dictyocaulus arnfieldi (4.2%). Anoplocephala and Oxyuris equi species have shown significant difference among age groups and body condition scores of equines (P<0.05), while Trichostrongylus axie was statistically significant (P<0.05) among age group of equine. Based on the results of egg per gram faeces (EPG) counts, horses were severely infected with 8% of Strongyles spp., 1.1% of Strongyliodwesteri and 3.34% of Parascaris equorum, donkeys were severely infected with 5% Strongyliodwesteri and 10% Parascaris equorum and mules were severely infected with 33.3% Strongyles spp. Thus, our study revealed that gastrointestinal helminths are the major health problem of equines. It is recommended that to develop sustainable integrated diseases prevention and control through strategic deworming, rotational grazing and parasite species identification for proper dosing of antihelminthics