Prevalence and epidemiology of the major gastrointestinal parasites of horses in Perth, Western Australia

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Abstract
A survey was conducted on the prevalence of the major gastrointestinal parasites in 140 necropsied horses. Adult Strongylus vulgaris were found in 22.5% of horses and verminous arteritis in 62.9%. The peak worm prevalence was in November to January (summer). S. edentatus had a similar prevalence and seasonality, but S. equinus was not found in this survey. Draschia megastoma and Habronema muscae were found in 66.2 and 35.3% of horses, respectively. Infection is probably acquired in summer when 8% of the Musca domestica in the vicinity of the stables carried 3rd stage spiruroid larvae. Gasterophilus intestinalis and G. nasalis occurred in 36.4% and 22.1% of the horses, respectively, and 52.1% of horses were infected with 1 or both species. The peak prevalence of G. intestinalis larvae occurred in December with a trough in February-April; the peak prevalence of G. nasalis was in May with a trough in November-December. Parascaris equorum was found in 9.9% of the horses and in 21.3% of those < 3 yr old. Anoplocephala perfoliata was found in 4.9% of the horses and most of these were in older horses.