Prevalence of Helminth Parasites of Horses in and Around Hawassa Town, Southern Ethiopia

The present study was carried out from November 2008 to March 2009 in and around Hawassa town to identify and determine the prevalence of helminth species and its associated risk factors in Horses. For this purpose, a total of 190 fecal samples were collected randomly from naturally infected horses for examination of the presence of helminth parasites. The overall prevalence of different types of helminth eggs and helminth species in this study were 97.9 %. 4 horses were free from any parasites (2.1%) and mixed infections were detected in 83.2% of horses. From fecal examinations those animals infected with one, two, three and four types of parasite were: 28 (14.7%), 56 (29.5%), 68 (35.8%), 34 (17.9%), respectively. The parasites encountered were 85(44.7%), 70 (36.8%), 31 (16.3%), 65 (34.2%), 106 (55.8%), 54 (28.4%), 63 (33.2%) and 7 (3.7%) were positive for Strongylus vulgaris, Strongyle edentatus, Strongyle equines, Oxyrus equi, Parascaris equorum, Strongyloides westeri, Triodonthophorus tencollis and Dictyocaulus arnfieldi, respectively There was statistical significant difference (P<0.05) in prevalence of S. edentatus, S. equines and T. tencollis between the body conditions as examined by coproscopy. There was statistically no significant difference (p>0.05) in prevalence of Strongyle vulgaris, Oxyrus equi, Parascaris equerum, S. westeri and D. arnifielde within the body conditions. Statistically significance differences in prevalence of all the listed parasites among the age groups were not observed (P>0.05) as examined by coproscopy.. From this study it can be concluded that body condition can be considered as one of the important factors which influence the occurrence of some helminth parasites in horses. It is recommended that owners should be trained to improve the management system, especially in terms of the level of nutrition so that the animal can have good body condition that confers some level of resistance against helminthes infection.