Catarina Jota Baptista1, Endre Sós2, Luís Madeira de Carvalho3. 1. CIISA-Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar Em Sanidade Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida da Universidade Técnica, 1300-477, Lisboa, Portugal. catabap@hotmail.com. 2. Budapest Zoo and Botanical Garden, Állatkerti krt. 6-12, 1146, Budapest, Hungary. 3. CIISA-Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar Em Sanidade Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida da Universidade Técnica, 1300-477, Lisboa, Portugal.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Przewalski's horse (Equus ferus przewalskii) is a subspecies of Equus ferus classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), whose gastrointestinal (GI) parasitism has been studied in different populations, in situ and ex situ, during the last decades. We aimed to summarize the information available on the subject. METHODS: In this review, we collected information from distinct published literature, interpreted it, compared it and related the Przewalski's horse biology and ecology with different findings. RESULTS: Many similarities can be found between the Przewalski's horse populations and the domestic horses regarding their gastrointestinal parasite community. However, not all the GI parasites described in the domestic horse have been reported in Przewalski's horse's surveys. The most prevalent parasites found in Przewalski's horses belong to the Strongylidae family, namely the Cyathostominae. CONCLUSIONS: More continuous monitoring studies should be carried on in different in situ and ex situ locations to consistently support the one-off surveys. It might be necessary to better correlate the parasitological findings of this subspecies with other animals that share the same habitat and ecosystem, for instance, intermediate and reservoir hosts, from different animal taxonomic groups.
PURPOSE: Przewalski's horse (Equus ferus przewalskii) is a subspecies of Equus ferus classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), whose gastrointestinal (GI) parasitism has been studied in different populations, in situ and ex situ, during the last decades. We aimed to summarize the information available on the subject. METHODS: In this review, we collected information from distinct published literature, interpreted it, compared it and related the Przewalski's horse biology and ecology with different findings. RESULTS: Many similarities can be found between the Przewalski's horse populations and the domestic horses regarding their gastrointestinal parasite community. However, not all the GI parasites described in the domestic horse have been reported in Przewalski's horse's surveys. The most prevalent parasites found in Przewalski's horses belong to the Strongylidae family, namely the Cyathostominae. CONCLUSIONS: More continuous monitoring studies should be carried on in different in situ and ex situ locations to consistently support the one-off surveys. It might be necessary to better correlate the parasitological findings of this subspecies with other animals that share the same habitat and ecosystem, for instance, intermediate and reservoir hosts, from different animal taxonomic groups.
Authors: Lucie Debeffe; Philip D McLoughlin; Sarah A Medill; Kathrine Stewart; Daniel Andres; Todd Shury; Brent Wagner; Emily Jenkins; John S Gilleard; Jocelyn Poissant Journal: Parasitology Date: 2016-07 Impact factor: 3.234