Abstract

A cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2023 to September 2024 in four districts in Dakahlia governorate in Egypt to determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal helminths in both donkeys and horses. Throughout the study, 400 equines (205 horses and 195 donkeys) were randomly selected and examined during the study period. During the examination: modified Wisconsin sucrose flotation, McMaster technique were conducted to estimate the infection intensity, and those samples were also cultured, and the harvested 3rd stage larvae were employed to identify different strongyle species present. The overall prevalence of gastrointestinal helminths in equine was found 25% with 29.26% in horses and 20.51% in donkeys. The prevalence of Strongyle spp., Strongyloid westeri, Habronema spp., Oxyuris equi, Parascaris equorum, Monizia spp., Anaplocephala spp. and Fasciola spp. were recorded in both horses and donkeys. There was also mixed infection with total frequency of 53.3% in horses and 65 % in donkeys compared to 46.6% in horses and 35% in donkeys for single infection. The risk factors including locality, age, sex and season were studied.

Key words: Gastrointestinal helminths, Epidemiology, Horses and donkeys, Dakahlia governorate, Egypt.