Epidemiology of Horse Git Parasitism in Gondar Town and Wegera District

Abstract

A cross sectional study was conducted from November 2017 to April 2018 in and around Gondar town and Wegera district to determine the prevalence identification of horses GIT nematode parasites. A total of 384 faecal samples were collected from randomly selected horses and examined for nematode parasites. Out of the total examined horse 349 (90.9%) were harbour one or more types of GIT nematode. Nematodes type identified in horse of the study area were Strongyle spp, Parascaris equorum, Oxyuris equi and mixed type. Significantly higher prevalence of nematode infection was observed in young horses than the adult (OR=7.78, p<0.05); the risks of nematode infection in young horses were 7.78 times higher than adults. Likewise, significant variation in overall prevalence of GIT nematode in between female and male horses were observed (OR=0.34, P<0.05). Significant difference on the prevalence between different body conditioned animals were observed; in which higher value observed in poor body condition horses (OR=4.28, p<0.05). Also significant variation on the prevalence of GIT nematodes were also recorded between the study areas (OR=3.22, p<0.05). In this study, age, body condition score, sex and origin are factors associated with prevalence of nematode of horse in the study areas. In the study area poor nutrition, low productivity in horse is likely to be aggravated by a high prevalence of polyparasitism. Therefore, regular deworming, improvement of housing and feeding management should be recommended.

Keywords: Gastrointestinal Nematodes, Gondar, Horses, Prevalence, Wegera