A study on the prevalence of cyathostomin and Anoplocephala perfoliata infections in Italian horses: diagnostic testing and analysis of factors affecting infection risk

BACKGROUND: Cyathostomins and Anoplocephala perfoliata infect equids worldwide and both are of concern due to their potential to cause clinical disease. Although coprological techniques are commonly used for assessing helminth egg shedding these do not provide information about an individual's total parasite burden. Antibody-based tests provide information on infection levels within individuals.

AIMS/OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate cyathostomin and Anoplocephala perfoliata occurrence in Italian horses using coprological and serum-based antibody detection methods and to analyse risk factors for infection at the individual level.

METHODS: Samples from 173 horses were collected on 35 farms. Coprological examinations were performed using Mini-FLOTAC or a centrifugation/flotation technique. Parasite-specific antibody levels were assessed by ELISA using the Tapeworm Blood Test and the Small Redworm Blood Test.

RESULTS: Intestinal strongyle and tapeworm eggs were detected in 140 (80.9%) and five (2.9%) faecal samples, respectively. Cyathostomin ELISA results revealed 39 horses (22.5%) below the 1,000 total worm burden threshold, with 75 (43.0%) below the 10,000. Tapeworm ELISA results indicated 136/173 horses (78.6%) were below the test's treatment threshold. Small Redworm serum score result category was associated with sex, access to pasture, strongyle FEC, no recent anti-nematode treatments and tapeworm serum score category. Tapeworm ELISA results were associated with living area, age class, sex, access to pasture, quarantine procedures, dung removal, strongyle FEC, no recent anti-nematode treatments and SR serum score category.

CONCLUSION: Cyathostomin and A. perfoliata infections in Italian horses are influenced by horse signalment, specific management practices and, in the case of tapeworm, living area.