Survey on Gastrointestinal parasitic helminthes in club and rural horses in Ardabil city, Iran

Parasitic diseases are the major obstacle in the growth and development of animal health all over the world. Horses, among most domestic animals are reported to be more susceptible to a large number of parasites and may harbor different species at any time. The present study was carried out to establish the Gastrointestinal Parasites (GIP) profile of club and rural horses in Ardabil city. A total of fifty (50) horses made up of 34 males and 16 females were examined in spring and summer, 2015. Fecal samples were processed by flotation techniques. GIP encountered were Strongyles (34%), Parascaris equorum (20%), Strongyloides westrii. (12%), Anoplocephalidae (6%), Trichostrongylus spp. (4%), Ornithobilharzia turkestanicum (4%) and Dicrocoelium dendriticum (2%). According to the results, no significant differences in infection rate were found between male and female horses. But intensity of infection in untreated horses were significantly more than treated horses (P<0.05). There was no significant differences between infected and uninfected horses in age despite of more infection rate were found in horses aged 6 – 10yrs. Meanwhile in 4% of samples Ornithobilharzia eggs were found that is the first report of this parasite in horses in the region.