Studies of parasitic horse diseases in the Republic of Belarus

Despite growing technological advances, there is a worldwide interest in horses. Horses have an important role in human health and the development of horse sport. Horses produce several biologically important materials that are used in the biotechnological and pharmaceutical industries. Horses are very sensitive to various diseases. The digestive tract of horses is especially prone to infection by various pathological agents. In this study, we aimed to analyze helminth infection in the digestive tract of horses. We were first, who studied the fauna and specific structure of intestinal helminths in Belarusian horses. We collected more than 20,000 helminths from the large intestines of 107 horses were killed on the state meat factory Our surveyed animals belonged to different age groups: foal (i.e., 3 months to 1 year; n = 53), young (i.e., 1-3 years; n = 20), and adult (i.e., >3 years; n = 34). Our study identified helminth parasitic infection in different parts of the gastrointestinal tract in horses. The prevalence of gastrointestinal infestation by helminths in horses 1 year old was significantly lower than in those in other age groups. With increasing age of the horse, the quantity of helminth infection increased and peaked in horses older than 15 years (Trichonematidae, 4000 eggs under 20x magnification; and Strongylidae, 340 eggs under 20x magnification). The helminthofauna tract of horses in Belarus was represented by 30 species of nematodes, which included 26 strongyles and Cyathostomatidae. The dominant nematodes of the family Strongylidae were Strongylusequinus, Delafondia vulgaris, Alfortiaedentatus, Triodontophorus serratus, and Triodontophorusbrevicauda. From the family Trichonematidae, the species were Cyathostomumtetrakanthum, Cylicocyclusnassatus, Cylicostephanuslongibursatus, Cylicostephanusgoldi, Cyathostomumpateratum, Cylicocyclus insigne, Cylicostephanusminutus and Coronocycluslabiatus.