Prevalence and Risk Factors of Equine Strongylosis in Khartoum State - Sudan

Abstract

Across-sectional study was carried out from November 2016 to January 2017 to determine the prevalence of Strongylus species in donkeys and horses in the Khartoum state . Fresh faecal samples were obtained from 384 animals randomly selected horses (n=227) and donkeys (n=107). Coprological examination for the detection of Strongyle eggs was performed using the floatation technique. The overall prevalence of Strongyle infection in both species of animals was 30.5% (117/384). In the two separate species; the infection rates were 15.5% (43/277) in horses and 69.2% (74/107) in donkeys.The infection rates of Strongylus were 64.7% and 28.9% in young and adult animals respectively. The infection rate in male animals was 25.7% and in female it was 57.9%, 29.1% in good condition animals and 43.2% in emaciated one. The infection rate in indoor housed animals was 25.0% and 28.8% in outdoor animals, 16.0% in animals kept in good hygiene and 49.7% in those kept in bad hygiene. According to the pattern of feeding, the infection rate was 24.3% in in-grazing animals and 70.6% in out-grazing animals, while it was 21.5% in animals not previously infected and 68.5% in previously infected animals. In racing horses the rate of infection was 0.00%, 19.5% in loading animals, and 69.2% in working animals. In those animals where deworming is practiced the infection rate was 0.00% while it is 49.1% in those where anuthelmintics are not used. The highest prevalence of infection was in Omdurman(48.1%), Bhari(32.0%), and Khartoum city(10.4%). There was significant association between all the potential risk factor and the infection rate at the univirate analysis(p ˂ 0.25), while there were no significant difference at the multivirate analysis (p ˂ 0.05). IX Strongylosis is an important Disease in these areas causing health problem in equine.