Anoplocephala perfoliata in horses in Sweden: prevalence, infection levels and intestinal lesions

Abstract

Distal ileum, caecum and proximal colon of 470 horses were examined for helminths during 1 year at an abattoir in central Sweden. The infection levels of the horse tapeworm Anoplocephala perfoliata, their stage of development, site of attachment and gross pathological lesions caused by the worm were recorded. Faecal samples from 395 of the horses were examined specifically for tapeworm segments and eggs in order to correlate these findings with the numbers in the alimentary canal. In total 65% of the horses were infected with A. perfoliata and the mean intensity of infection was 79 worms per infected horse with a maximum of 912. The level of infection was significantly higher in (1) 3rd and 4th than in 1st and 2nd quarter of the year; (2) older horses than in yearlings; (3) females than in males and geldings; (4) thoroughbred and cold-blooded horses than in Swedish standard breeds and ponies. The level of infection was unaffected by the usage of anthelminthics against nematodes. Of the horses examined 51% had 1-100 worms whereas 14% were infected with more than 100 worms. Of the tapeworm positive horses 72% had mixed infections with both adult and juvenile worms, 20% solely juveniles, and 8% solely adults. The severity of intestinal lesions exacerbated by increasing numbers of A. perfoliata. About 11% of the intestines examined had severe lesions, but there was no history of acute abdominal distress in any of the horses included in this study. Although the number of detectable eggs was significantly higher for horses heavily infected with A. perfoliata, the egg recovery among infected horses was only 35%. An additional field survey comprising 218 horses on 88 premises in central and southern parts of Sweden showed that the prevalence of A. perfoliata egg positive horses was the same as found on faecal examination during the abattoir survey.