La gran mayoría de las especies del reino animal puede ser afectadas por enfermedades parasitarias, y los equinos no son la excepción. Los parásitos son organismos que de forma permanente o temporal y de manera obligatoria, Deben nutarte a expensa de otro organism (who no pertenínezca a su especie), This relation no implica en la
En este artículo de ExpertoAnimal desarrollaremos las generalidades de los organismos más importantes que parasitan caballos, las enfermedades que producen, su prevención y su posible tratamiento. Sigue leyendo para descubrir todos lostypes of parasites in horses and the symptoms they produce.
Types of parasites in horses
A parasitic disease is one caused by parasites. Parasites adapt to the different habitats that the host can provide (blood, skin, subcutaneous tissue, organs, cavities, etc.), which is why they can be classified according to the affected area. Since there are millions of genera and species of parasites, taxonomic categories are used to make their study a bit easier. Taxa are nothing more than groups in which biology scientifically classifies living beings, associating them by their similarities and their phylogenetic proximity. The correct taxonomic classification of parasitic species helped science to better group the diseases they produce, thus facilitating both the work of medicine and teaching.
However, more generally, we can classify parasites in horses into two large groups:
- Internal parasites
- External parasites
Within each group we find different types of parasites that affect horses, as we will see in the following sections.
Internal parasites in horses
Internal parasites, also called endoparasites, are organisms that live inside the animal (organs, blood, intestines, etc.). They also receive a classification according to the internal space in which they develop their lives. They are the cause of many diseases that can put the life of the animal at risk. The internal parasites that are of most clinical importance in equines are the following:
Intestinal parasites in horses
As we mentioned earlier, one of the ways to classify parasitic diseases is by the affected host system or organ. In this case, that we are talking about the intestines, these diseases have great clinical relevance, since they are the cause of diarrhea, colic, peritonitis and many other digestive conditions.
The most important intestinal parasites are the so-called strongyles, which are the cause of equine strongylosis (parasitosis caused in horses by nematodes of the Strongylida order) and are the protagonists of most conditions caused by intestinal parasites in horses. Although there is a classification of large and small strongyles, we will talk about the most important ones. Some of the large strongyles are capable of migrating and affecting organs far from the intestine. The most common strongyles are:
- Strongylos vulgaris: it is located in the large intestine causing injuries that reduce the quality of life of the horse. One of the most outstanding characteristics of this parasite is that in some cases it can migrate through the arteries, adhering to and weakening the endothelium, an action that ends up causing verminous aneurysm.
- Strongylos equinus: it is part of the great strongyles and also has the characteristic that it can migrate. In this case, it causes pancreatitis and severe liver damage in horses.
- Strongylus edentatus: this parasite is associated with peritonitis in horses, although it has also been described that it can cause liver damage.
Apart from strongyles, we must mention other species of intestinal parasites in horses with great relevance:
- Parascaris equorum: causes colic due to obstruction and is characterized by high mortality in foals.
- Oxiurys equis: causes oxyurosis in horses, characterized by itching of the anus and tail, restlessness and subsequent loss of appetite due to stress.
- Habronemiasis: it is a pathology caused by nematodes of the Habronema order and, although nematodes parasitize intestines, this species is capable of causing the equine cutaneous habronemiosis, one of the most studied skin conditions in horses. Within this order we can name Habronema megastoma, Habronema muscae and Habronema microstoma.
Hemoparasites in horses
As the word implies, hemoparasites are nothing more than parasitic organisms that live in the blood of the host. They tend to have a preference for certain cells depending on the species, although some have been reported to remain free in the bloodstream. In the equine, the most studied are:
- Trypanosomes: causing equine trypanosomiasis, they cause anemia that can be quite serious. The species that parasitizes horses is called Trypanosoma evansi.
- Babesias: causes equine piroplasmosis. Some species of babesia can parasitize the horse through vectors (in this case a tick). In the horse we can find the species Babesia caballi and Babesia equi.
Lung parasites in horses
There are parasites in horses that develop their evolutionary cycles in the respiratory tract. In the case of horses, the most important is a nematode called Dictyocaulus arnfeldii, which causes equine pulmonary worm disease. Its main symptoms are cough and runny nose, especially on cold days. Its prognosis is generally favorable, but if the infestation is severe, it can cause respiratory distress to pneumonia. It can also favor the environment for a bacterial infection that can endanger the life of the animal, especially foals.
Kidney parasites in horses
There are some parasites capable of living in the kidney. In the case of horses, we must take into account Klossielia equi, responsible for equine renal coccidiosis. This pathology can lead the animal to kidney infections and alterations in the architecture of the kidney.
External parasites in horses
External parasites, or ectoparasites, are organisms that live outside the host's organism, they are generally found on the skin and can cause very dangerous diseases for the animal that hosts them. We can name insects, mites, arachnids, etc., but the most important external parasites in horses can be classified as follows:
Flies
- Tábanos: are species of flies belonging to the Tabanidae family. They are hematophagous, that is, they feed on blood and some species are related to horses. Its sting is quite painful, which is why it causes stress problems for the specimen.
- Stomoxys calcitrans: is commonly called stable fly and It also has hematophagous habits. It is interested in practically any warm-blooded animal (including humans), which is why it should be considered an important external parasite in the study of equines.
- Gasterophilus: the flies belonging to this genus have the peculiarity of causing myiasis in different parts of the organism. They can grow their larvae in the intestines or in the nasal cavity, depending on the species. The most important ones that affect horses are: G. haemorrhoidalis, G. intestinalis and G. nasalis.
Ticks on horses
The most common tick species on horses are:
- Dermacentor nitens: is a species belonging to the Ixodidae family (hard ticks) and is one of the ticks that parasitize horses. This tick serves as a vector for other parasites (such as babesia), causing different systemic diseases such as equine piroplasmosis.
- Amblyiomma Cajennense: also belongs to the family of hard ticks and is one of the species most commonly found on horses. It causes anemia problems and is well known worldwide for being responsible for Rocky Mountain Fever.
We will notice that the horse has ticks if we observe that he feels itching in a certain area. When analyzing this area, we will be able to see the tick perfectly, which we will have to remove with tweezers, being very careful, or going to the veterinarian.
How to eliminate parasites in horses? - Treatment
For obvious reasons, each parasitic species will have a totally different control and treatment. It is important to carry out an efficient he alth control and for the veterinarian to evaluate the animal from birth. Antiparasitic medication in the opinion of the doctor will be the most favorable for the animal, however, management recommendations must also be followed to avoid subsequent infections. In addition to the he alth plan, some fly traps are recommended if the situation warrants it or if the animal is located in an area that is very favorable for dipteran insects.
The prognosis, most of the time, is favorable if the aforementioned is taken into account from the beginning, in fact, a minimum parasitic load is allowed that does not trigger signs and symptoms of any disease. In the event that mishandling is carried out and the reproduction of parasites is excessive, of course the life of the specimen is put at risk.
So, how to eliminate parasites in horses? Antiparasitic products will be chosen according to the parasite in question. On the other hand, once eliminated, the veterinarian will set a preventive deworming calendar, that is, to avoid future infestations. Said schedule will include both internal deworming, through tablets or syrups, and external deworming, through topical or ingested products. Of course, in addition to taking deworming into account, we recommend taking into account in the deworming plan vaccination for horses established by the specialist.
