A survey of Dictyocaulus arnfieldi (Nematoda) infections in equids in Urmia region, Iran

Dictyocaulus arnfieldi is a lungworm commonly found in equids; however, relatively little is known about it. The aim of the present study was to establish the prevalence of equine lungworms in naturally-infected working and sporting horses, donkeys and mules in rural areas of Urmia, northwest Iran. The fecal samples were collected from 299 working horses, 57 sporting horses, 66 donkeys and 37 mules during the period March 2014 to June 2016. The collected fecal samples were processed within 48 hours following rectal sampling. The larval count/g (LPG) of feces was determined using the Baermann technique. The larvae were identified morphologically, and the arithmetic mean of the LPG was calculated at each sampling point. The overall prevalence of lungworm in all equine species was found to be 19.20%., with specific values of 15.71%, 0%, 31.81% and 24.32% being found in working horses, sporting horses, donkeys and mules, respectively. The working horses, donkeys and mules were also found to be heavily infected with Dictyocaulus arnfieldi and in addition to donkeys and mules, working horses are considered natural hosts for lungworm, and this has effects on both the epidemiology of parasitic infections and performance of the equids.