Prevalence and Distribution of Gastrointestinal Parasites in Horses at a Polo Facility in Kaduna State, Nigeria

Abstract

The presence of gastrointestinal parasites in equine populations can have significant health implications, especially in regions with variable climatic and management conditions. Diagnostic methods used in the identification of gastrointestinal parasites have evolved significantly over the years, with advances in both microscopy-based techniques and molecular diagnostics. Conventional diagnostic methods. The aim of the study was to determine the presence of common gastrointestinal parasites, specifically strongyle eggs, coccidia oocysts, and ciliates, in horses at the facility. This study investigated the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in 120 horses, comprising 64 imported and 56 resident animals, housed at a Polo facility in Kaduna State, Nigeria. Faecal analysis identified strongyle eggs (20.0%), coccidia oocysts (0.8%), and ciliates (4.2%) in 25.0% of the horses. Specifically, 21.9% of the imported and 28.6% of the resident horses were found to be infected. Among imported horses, the infection rate was 17.2% for strongyles and 4.7% for ciliates, while resident horses showed an infection prevalence of 23.2% for strongyles, 1.8% for coccidia, and 3.6% for ciliates. The low prevalence of coccidia and ciliates in both groups suggests that these parasites are less common in the study population. However, their presence, even at low levels, indicates potential environmental contamination or exposure pathways within the facility. These findings emphasize the necessity for effective parasite control strategies to mitigate potential health risks to equine populations in similar facilities. There is need to adopt targeted deworming programmes based on faecal egg count results to prevent drug resistance and manage parasitic infections effectively. Furthermore, it is necessary to enhance environmental hygiene and pasture management practices within the facility to reduce the risk of parasite transmission and improve diagnostic accuracy.