Prevalence of Gastrointestinal Parasites of Horses and Donkeys in and around Gondar Town, Ethiopia

doi:10.4236/ojvm.2013.36043

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Open Journal of Veterinary Medicine, 2013, 3, 267-272

http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/ojvm.2013.36043 Published Online October 2013 (http://www.scirp.org/journal/ojvm)

Prevalence of Gastrointestinal Parasites of Horses and

Donkeys in and around Gondar Town, Ethiopia

Tola Mezgebu1, Ketema Tafess2, Firaol Tamiru3*

1Jimma Arjo District Animal Health and Marketing Agency, East Wollega Zone, Arjo, Ethiopia

2Department of Biomedical Science, School of Health, Adama Science and Technology University, Asella, Ethiopia

3Department of Veterinary Laboratory Technology, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Science,

Ambo University, Ambo, Ethiopia

Email: *[email protected]

Received July 25, 2013; revised August 25, 2013; accepted September 10, 2013

which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

ABSTRACT

A cross sectional study was conducted from October 2010 to June 2011 in and around Gondar town to identify the spe-

cies and determine prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in donkeys and horses. Gross examination, direct fecal smear,

sedimentation and floatation techniques were utilized to identify the eggs and larvae of parasites in feces. A total of 384

horses and donkeys were examined for gastrointestinal parasites. The overall prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites

was 92.71% (356 from 384) with 80.95% (85 from 105) and 97.13% (271 from 279) in horses and donkeys, respec-

tively. Prevalence of Strongyle, Parascaris equorum, Oxyuris equi, Gastrodiscus aegyptiacus and Gastroph ilus intesti-

nalis was 66.67%, 43.8%, 0.95%, 2.86%, and 0.95%, respectively in horses. Prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites was

87.81%, 42.29%, 4.30%, 5.73%, 1.43%, 3.58% and 0.72% for Strongyles, Parasca ris eq uoru m, Oxyuris equi, Fasciola,

Tricuris, Gastrodiscus aegyptiacus and Gastrophilus intestinalis in donkeys, respectively. There was a statistic- cally

significant difference between species, housing and among feed types in prevalence of equine gastrointestinal parasites

(p < 0.05). However, there was no statistical significant difference in prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites between

age, sex and among body condition. Donkeys were at higher risk of acquiring parasites than horses (OR = 7.97, CI =

3.39 - 18.75) and animals that fed only pasture and lived in poor house were at increased risk of acquiring infection (OR

= 9.59, CI = 3.25 - 28.25). In conclusion, the present study revealed higher prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in

horses and donkeys. Therefore, continuous deworming, improvement of housing and feeding management were rec-

ommended.

Keywords: Donkeys; Gondar; Gastrointestinal Parasites; Horse; Prevalence

1. Introduction

In the developing world, there are estimated 110 mil-

lions of equines [1]. Ethiopia has about 7.9 million

equines [2] and possesses approximately half of the Af-

rica’s equine population with 37% donkeys, 58% horses

and 46% mules [3]. There is one equine for every four

people in the agricultural sector and for every five per-

sons of the total population [4]. Equines have a promi-

nent position in the agricultural systems of many devel-

oping countries [5]. In Ethiopia, the low level of devel-

opment of the road transport network and the rough ter-

rain of the country make the donkeys and the horses the

most valuable, appropriate and affordable pack animals

under the small holder farming system [6]. They can be

used for such applications as riding, driving, flock pro-

tection, companion, breeding, training calves [5] and

provide urban dwellers with opportunity of income gen-

eration [7].

Parasitic helminthes are one of the most common fac-

tors that constrain the health and working performance of

donkeys and horses worldwide. They cause various de-

grees of damage depending on the species and number at

present, nutritional and the immune status of eqiuds [8].

They decrease the performance, production and produc-

tivity in the animals mainly in the reduction of body

weight or failure to gain weight or even increase the

mortality in acute case [9]. A number of studies con-

ducted to detect association between poverty and animal

diseases identified gastrointestinal parasitism as one of

the most important problems for eqiuds in developing

*Corresponding author.

T. MEZGEBU ET AL.

268

countries [10-12].

The prevalence and type of internal parasites affecting

eqiuds, in general, are ubiquitous with equines being

continually exposed throughout their lives. Although

they are often heavily parasitized by helminthes [13], the

prevalence and type of internal parasites affecting eqiuds

have not been determined to a great extent in Ethiopia,

particularly in and around Gondar town. Available in-

formation however, indicates that gastrointestinal para-

sites are the major cause of early demises of working

donkeys and horses in Ethiopia [5,14-17]. Therefore, the

current study was conducted to identify the species and

determine prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites of

donkeys and horses in the study area.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Study Area

The study was conducted from October 2010 to June

2011 on horses and donkeys in and around Gondar town,

Ethiopia. Gondar is administrative center of North Gon-

dar zone found at 748 km away from Addis Ababa, capi-

tal of Ethiopia. North Gondar zone is located at 550 -

4620 m above sea level. The rain fall varies from 880

mm to 1772 mm with monomodial distribution. The an-

nual temperature ranges from 10˚C to 44.5˚C. The zone

is divided into three main agro-climatic zones: high land,

mid land and low land region. The farming system of the

study area is characterized by a mixed (crop-livestock

production) farming system. There are 31,456 horses,

272,655 donkeys and 13,612 mules in the zone [18].

2.2. Study Design and Animals

A cross sectional study was conducted on 384 randomly

selected horses and donkeys (105 cart horses and 279

donkeys). Information about species, sex, age, body con-

dition and management system of the study animals were

gathered from the owners. The ages of animals were de-

termined using owners’ information and dentition [19].

Accordingly, animals were categorized as young (<2

years) and adults (>2 years). Body condition score (BCS)

was subjectively estimated based on the guides published

by Svendsen [14] as 1 (emaciated), 2 (thin), 3 (good), 4

(fat) and 5 (obese). These were categorized into three

groups as ≤2, 3 and ≥4 to represent BCS 1 and 2, 3, 4 and

5, respectively.

2.3. Study Methodology

Fecal samples were collected directly from the rectum

into universal bottle using sterile disposable gloves. Each

sample was labeled with necessary information and im-

mediately transported to Veterinary Parasitology Labo-

ratory, University of Gondar. Samples were kept in re-

frigerator at 4˚C if immediate processing was not possi-

ble, but it had been processed within 48 hours. Gross

examination was performed immediately after sample

collection for larvae recovery and the recovered larvae of

Gastrophilus species was identified using stereomicro-

scope. Direct fecal smear, sedimentation and floatation

techniques were the utilized parasitological techniques to

identify the eggs in feces and examined microscopically

(10× and 40×) for presence of parasite ova following

their procedures. Identification of the eggs was made on

the basis of their morphology [20].

2.4. Data Analysis

The collected data were coded and entered into Microsoft

Excel spread sheet. Statistical analyses were performed

using SPSS, version 17 software packages. Percentage

was used to calculate prevalence. Data were statistically

analyzed using chi-square. Univariate logistic and multi-

variate regressions were used to calculate degree of asso-

ciation between risk factors and prevalence of gastroin-

testinal parasites. In all cases 95% confidence interval

(CI) and p < 0.05 was considered for statistically signifi-

cant difference.

3. Results

An overall of 92.71% (356/384) equine gastrointestinal

parasites prevalence was obtained in the current study

with 80.95% (85/105) and 97.13% (271/279) prevalence

in horses and donkeys, respectively. There was statisti-

cally significant difference between species, housing and

among feed type in prevalence of equine gastrointestinal

parasites (p < 0.05). However, there was no statistical

significant difference in prevalence of gastrointestinal

parasites between age, sex and among body condition (p

> 0.05) (Table 1).

Eggs/larvae of different parasites were observed in

both equine species under the study. Five and seven dif-

ferent types of eggs/larvae were observed during cop-

rological examination in horses and donkeys, respec-

tively. Strongyle-type eggs were the highly prevalent

eggs with 66.67% in horses and 87.81% in donkeys

while Gastrophilus intestinalis larvae and Oxyuris equi

egg (0.95%) in horses, and Gastrop hilus intestinalis lar-

vae (0.72%) in donkeys were the least prevalent parasites

(Table 2).

Univariate logistic and multivariate regression analysis

was also undertaken estimate the strength of association

of risk factor with gastrointestinal parasites infection in

the study animals. Donkeys were found to be 7.97 times

at risk of developing gastrointestinal parasite than horse

(OR = 7.97, 95% CI = 3.39 - 18.75). Animals fed only

pasture and live in poor hous ng system were found to be i

T. MEZGEBU ET AL.

269

Table 1. Prevalence of equine gastrointestinal parasites between/among risk factors.

Variables No. of examined equine (%) No. of positive (%) χ2 p-value

Species

Horse 105 85 (80.95) 29.5 0.001

Donkey 279 271 (97.13)

Sex

Male 226 210 (92.92) 0.037 0.848

Female 158 146 (92.4)

Age

Adult 368 340 (92.39) 1.32 0.252

Young 16 16 (100)

BCS

≥4 23 23 (100) 2.56 0.277

3 72 68 (94.44)

≤2 289 265 (91.69)

Feed

Pasture 280 272 (97.14) 30.2 0.001

Mixed 92 74 (80.43)

Grain 12 10 (83.33)

Housing

Good 161 137 (85.09) 23.78 0.001

Poor 223 219 (98.2)

Table 2. Prevalence of helminth parasite of horses and donkeys from coprological examination.

Horse Donkey

Egg/larvae of parasite

No. of examined Positive Prevalence (%) No. of examined Positive Prevalence

Strongyle 105 70 66.67 279 245 87.81

Parascaris 105 46 43.81 279 118 42.29

Oxyuris equi 105 1 0.95 279 12 4.3

Fasciola 105 0 0 279 16 5.73

Tricuris 105 0 0 279 4 1.43

G. aegyptiacus 105 3 2.86 279 10 3.58

G. intestinalis 105 1 0.95 279 2 0.72

6.8 and 9.59 times at increased risk for gastrointestinal

parasite (OR = 6.8, CI = 1.27 - 36.23 and 9.59, 95% CI

=3.25 - 28.25), respectively. After adjustment of odds

ratio, poor housing was found to be significantly associ-

ated with gastrointestinal parasite infection in the study

animals (AOR = 5.79) (Table 3).

4. Discussion

In the present study, an overall of 92.71% prevalence of

gastrointestinal parasites with 80.95% in horses and

97.13% in donkeys were obtained. The higher gastroin-

testinal parasites prevalence (97.13%) observed in don-

keys in the current study is in line of agreement with

T. MEZGEBU ET AL.

270

Table 3. The association between independent logistic variable and helminth parasites infestation of equine.

Risk factors Group data No. examined Positive sample OR Adjusted OR CI χ2 p-value

Species Donkey 279 97.1% 7.97 2.23

Horse 105 81% 1 1

3.39 - 18.75 29.54 0.001

Pasture 280 97.1% 6.8 2.48

Mixed 92 80.4% 0.8220.75

1.27 - 36.23 26.11 0.001

Feed

Grain 12 83.3% 1 1

Poor 223 98.2% 9.59 5.79

House

good 161 85.1% 1 1

3.25 - 28.25 4.85 0.001

works of Yoseph et al. [21], Mulate [22], Fikru et al. [11],

Ayele et al. [23], Ibrahim et al. [16] and Wannas et al.

[24], who reported 100%, 100%, 92.8% 100%, 96.9%

and 100% in Wonchi Awraja, highlands of Wollo prov-

ince, Western highlands of Oromia, in Dugda Bora Dis-

trict, in and around Hawassa town, Ethiopia and Al Di-

waniyah Governorate, respectively. The prevalence in

horse (80.95%) observed in the current study is lower

than 100% prevalence report of Wannas et al. [24] and

higher than 65.51% (133 from 200) positive fecal sam-

ples for various helminthes [25]. When prevalence be-

tween the species is compared, the lower prevalence in

horses might be due feeding practices in the study area.

All most all of the horses under this study were cart

horses that fed grain byproducts and are less exposed to

pasture grazing. The difference among these findings

from different areas might be due to variation in man-

agement system, sample size and sampling method dif-

ferences [16].

Detection of highest prevalence of Strongyle-type eggs

in both species agrees with work of Wannas et al. [24]

who reported predomination of Strongyle-type eggs with

a prevalence of 50% in horse and 57.14% in donkeys.

Saeed et al. [25] also reported 58.50% (117 from 200)

Strongyle-type eggs in horses as predominant one.

Strongyles have large numbers of genera and species so

their percents usually represented (75% - 100%) of

whole nematodes infections [26].

The prevalence of Strongyle-type eggs in horses was

66.67% in the current study which is in close agreement

with 58.50% report of Saeed et al. [25]. The current re-

sult is lower than work of Fikru et al. [11] who reported

91%. The lower prevalence in the present study could be

due to all horses of this study were cart horses that are

less exposed and in some cases totally restricted from

pasture. The prevalence of Strongyles infestation was

87.81% in donkeys. Similar studies conducted in differ-

ent parts Ethiopia indicated higher prevalence than the

current study with an overall prevalence of 99%, 100%,

100%, 98.2% and 100% in Ada, Akaki Boset [27],

Dugda Bora distinct [23], highlands of Wollo province

[22], Western highlands of Oromia [11] and Wonchi [21],

respectively.

Oxyuris equi (0.95%) was one of the least prevalent

eggs of parasite detected in horses and with 4.30% in

donkeys in the current study. This is in agreement with

the work of Ayele et al. [23], who reported 3% and

Getachew et al. [27] who reported 2% in donkeys. Study

conducted in Western highlands of Oromia, Ethiopia

indicated 2.1% prevalence of Oxyuris equi in horses [11].

Similar study in Lesotho showed slight higher prevalence

(6.2%) in horses [28]. The lowest prevalence might be

due to the effect of relative higher temperature in the

present study area which desiccates the highly susceptible

Oxyuris equi egg.

The prevalence of Parascaris equorum was 43.8% in

horses. This result is higher than the prevalence re-

ported in Ethiopia by Yoseph et al. [29], Fikru et al. [11],

Getachew et al. [30] who reported 15.7%, 7.3%, and

16.2%, respectively and in Lesotho by Melissa et al. [28]

who reported 21.6% in horses. The prevalence of

Parascaris equorum was 42.29% in donkeys in the pre-

sent study is higher than 15.7% and 17.3% reported by

Yoseph et al. [21] and Fikru et al. [11] in donkeys. The

reported prevalence in donkeys from four sites in Ethio-

pia, 43.5% [31], 50% [23], 51% [32] and 51% [27],

slightly agrees with the present study. The difference in

prevalence of Parascaris equorum from different reports

in developing countries is somewhat conflicting and this

could be due to compromised immune responses relating

to concurrent disease, but is worthy of further investiga-

tion [28].

The prevalence of Gastrodiscus aegyptiacus and

Gastrophilus intestinalis in the present study were 2.86%

and 3.58%, 0.95% and 0.72% in horses and donkeys,

respectively. The finding of the current study is lower

than report of Getachew et al. [27] (30%) in donkeys.

Ayele et al. [11] also reported 6% prevalence in donkeys

of Dugda Bora district. The lower prevalence in the pre-

sent study may be due to the difference in geographical

T. MEZGEBU ET AL. 271

location of the area from other study areas. The preva-

lence of Fasciola was 5.7% in donkeys in the current

study is lower than work of Getachew et al. [27] who

reported 80% in donkeys. Slight lower prevalence (1.5%)

of fasciolosis in donkeys was reported from Dugda Bora

distinct of Ethiopia [23]. The lower prevalence of Fas-

ciola eggs in the current study compared to the reports of

Getachew et al. [27] is due to the geographical location

of the area which is not comfortable for the snail popula-

tion, the intermediate host of Fasciola. Only very few

areas, where summer tributaries are dried off are found to

be swampy. The work of Getachew et al. [27] was in

fasciolosis endemic area and is not representative for the

whole country [28].

This study confirmed presence of statistical significant

difference between species, housing and among feed type

in prevalence of equine gastrointestinal parasites and

absence of statistical significant difference in prevalence

of gastrointestinal parasites between age, sex and among

body condition. In agreement with this, studies in other

parts of Ethiopia indicated absence of statistical signifi-

cance difference between age groups. However, there is

presence of statistical significant difference in the preva-

lence of the parasites among the different body condition

scores and more prevalence of helminth parasites in ani-

mals with poor body condition than well-conditioned

animals [16,23]. This might be due to increased land of

cultivation which restricts animals on small communal

grazing land which allows animals for continuous expo-

sure [16].

In this study, donkeys were seen to be 7.97 times at

risk of acquiring gastrointestinal parasites than horses.

According to Svendsen and Elisabeth [33], the donkey

and the horse are closely related, and many of the condi-

tions that affect them are similar; however, detecting

illness in the donkey can be made more difficult by its

stoical nature. This means that donkeys may be in the

advanced stages of a disease before it is noticed or a di-

agnosis is reached and horses may get dewormig than

donkeys before severity of the disease, which might be

related to less risk of acquiring gastrointestinal parasite

diseases. Also it might be related with the feeding prac-

tices as all donkeys under the study were at free grazing

that they have high chance of ingesting large amount of

gastrointestinal parasites eggs and larvae. Horses and

donkeys that feed pasture and live in poor housing were

at higher risk of acquiring gastrointestinal parasites than

those at mixed feed, grain feed and in good house, re-

spectively. It is assumed that there are different risk fac-

tors that contribute to acquiring gastrointestinal parasites

in equines. Among this poor housing was found to be the

major contributing factors in equine which increases the

risk of infestation times than any of the associated risk

factor in the study animals.

5. Conclusions and Recommendations

In conclusion, the study revealed high gastrointestinal

parasites occurrence in and around Gondar in donkeys

and horses. The identified eggs/larvae types include Stron-

gyle, Parascaris equorum, Oxyuris equi, Gastrodiscus

aegyptiacus, Tricuris, Gastrophilus intestinalis and Fas-

ciola. Strongyle and Parascaris equorum eggs were

common with high prevalence in the area of study. Don-

keys were at higher risk of infestation than horses. Spe-

cies (horses and donkeys), type of feed and housing were

the important risk factors for occurrence of gastro-in-

testinal parasites in the equine species. Based on the

above conclusion, the following recommendations were

forwarded.

1) Improvement of housing and feeding managemental

system for equines.

2) Regular deworming and promotion of equine hus-

bandry practices by concerned organs.

6. Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Faculty of Veterinary Medi-

cine, University of Gondar. Dr. Sefinew Alemu and Ms

Meaza, University of Gondar Veterinary Parasitology

laboratory technician, are also acknowledged for his as-

sistance during the study.

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