Estudo de caso: controle estratégico de parasitas gastrointestinais em equinos criados em sistema extensivo na Fazenda Rio das Tunas

Abstract

Horses are infected by several gastrointestinal parasites, among them, there are the small strongyles, also known as ciastomydes (Cyathostomum spp., Cylicostephanus spp.), large strongyles (Strongylus vulgaris, S. equinus, S. edentatus) and, still Parascaris equorum, Oxyuris equi, Strongyloides westeri, Trichostrongylus axei, Habronema spp., Anoplocephala spp. These parasites can cause serious damage that vary from small discomfort until death of the animal. Rio dos Tunas farm is located at Nova Laranjeiras municipality, in the State of Paraná, Brazil, and host 18 horses, raised under extensive system, that were never treated with anti-helminth. Therefore, in face of the importance of prevention and control, this work had to perform a survey about the incidence of gastrointestinal parasites (PGIs) of horses raised under extensive system, the study was conduted in the summer season between the months of January to March, through analyses of egg count per gram of feces (OPG) and identification of larvae in laboratory and further strategic control of PGIs. Animals were clinically evaluated and data were be correlated with the PGI incidence, the results showed a significant correlation between OPG and ocular and oral mucosa staining parameters. After treatment, significant improvements were also observed in the following variables: body condition score, ocular and oral mucosal staining and OPG.