Abstract:

[Objective] To investigate and analyze the parasitic infection status of thoroughbred horses of different genders and ages in varied months in Zhaosu County of Xinjiang, so as to provide guidelines for the healthy breeding and scientific deworming of the thoroughbred horses in this region. [Method] A total of 122 thoroughbred horses of different ages were randomly selected and divided into 5 groups according to genders and ages, including 30 lactating foals, 25 young mares, 20 young males, 35 breeding mares and 12 stallions. Experiments were carried out according to the modes of group confinement feeding and single stall feeding in the stable to ensure the adequate intake of diet and drinking water for the thoroughbred horses of different ages. The fecal samples were collected in May and October. By using the egg count method, the parasites in the fecal samples were detected, and the parasite infection rate and intensity of the thoroughbred horses of different ages in varied months were estimated. [Result] In May, the infection rates of Oxyuris equi and Eimeria spp in the thoroughbred horses were high, and the infection rates were all higher than 94.00% with the exception of the stallions. Among them, the infection rates of Oxyuris equi and Eimeria spp in the lactating foals were as high as 98.89% and 98.33%, respectively. The infection rates of Parascaris equorum and Eimeria spp in the thoroughbred horses were higher than 93.00% in October, with Parascaris equorum infection rates in the breeding mares reaching 99.52% and Eimeria spp infection rates in the lactating foals reaching 98.33%. In May, the lactating foals had significantly （P<0.05） higher infection intensities of Parascaris equorum, Trichostrongylus spp, Cyathostomum spp and Triodontophorus tenuicollis than the other groups, and had significantly （P<0.05） higher infection intensities of Oxyuris equi, Eimeria spp and Gastrodiscus aegyptiacus than the stallions, but no significant （P>0.05） differences with the other groups. In October, the lactating foals had significantly （P<0.05） higher infection intensities of Parascaris equorum, Trichostrongylus spp and Anoplocephala spp than the other groups except for the breeding mares, had significantly （P<0.05） higher infection intensity of Triodontophorus tenuicollis than the other groups, and had significantly （P<0.05） higher infection intensities of Eimeria spp and Gastrodiscus aegyptiacus than the stallions. The infection intensities of Parascaris equorum and Triodontophorus tenuicollis in the stallions was significantly （P<0.05） lower than the other groups. There were no significant （P>0.05） differences in the infection intensity of Oxyuris equi across the different groups. [Conclusion] The main intestinal parasites found in the thoroughbred horses in Zhaosu County were Oxyuris equi, Eimeria spp, Trichostrongylus spp, Triodontophorus tenuicollis, Cyathostomum spp, Parascaris equorum, Anoplocephala spp, and Gastrodiscus acgyptiacus. The single infections and severe co-infections of the above parasites occurred in the thoroughbred horses of different ages and in varied months. The lactating foals had higher parasitic infection rates and intensities than the thoroughbred horses of the other ages.

Key words: thoroughbred horses, parasites, infection intensity, infection rate