Welfare assessment of Thoroughbred horses naturally infected with gastrointestinal parasites in Southern Brazil: Quantifying the host-parasite relationship.

Horse welfare assessment (HWA) does not account for individual or herd parasite infection. This study investigated the connection between HWA and individual parasite fecal egg count (FEC) in 90 Thoroughbred horses. All horses were naturally infected with gastrointestinal parasites and were evaluated for individual welfare indicators and FEC monthly, for 12 months. Horses were divided into three groups of 30 mares, 30 foals aged between 13 and 16 months (G2013), and 30 foals aged between two months and one year (G2014). A horse welfare protocol was developed and 1024 assessments were carried out by five trained assessors. FEC ranged from 0 to 5,760 with 98.8 % showing small strongyle eggs. Body condition scores were ideal in 94.4 % of the evaluations (n = 967), and 95.8 % of all horses had good clinical and behavioral indicators. Despite the variation in FEC, the data found no significant association between FEC and the behavioral indicators. The study suggests that FEC alone should not be used as a determinant of welfare when animals are managed with good nutritional and health management practices.

Avaliação do sistema integrado de controle parasitário em uma criação semi-intensiva de caprinos na região de Santa Catarina / Evaluation of the integrated parasite control in a semi-intensive goat farming in the region of Santa Catarina

O objetivo deste trabalho foi subsidiar um programa sustentável de controle parasitário em um rebanho caprino em São Francisco do Sul, SC, aplicando o Sistema Integrado de Controle Parasitário (SICOPA). Foram utilizados 63 caprinos, distribuídos em nove grupos para teste de eficácia de anti-helmínticos, exames de contagem de ovos por grama de fezes (OPG), coprocultura, grau Famacha, micro-hematócrito, escore corporal e contagem de larvas no pasto. A redução da OPG 15 dias pós-tratamento com closantel, albendazole, nitroxinil, levamisole, ivermectina+levamisole+albendazol, moxidectina, ivermectina, abamectina e sulfóxido de albendazol foi de 89, 83, 65, 63, 57, 37, 31, 0 e 0%, respectivamente. A média de graus Famacha 1 e 2 no estudo foi de 81%, e de graus 3, 4 e 5 foi de 19%, e não se observou correlação com os valores do micro-hematócrito em razão da prevalência de Trichostrongylus sp. (92%). A contagem de larvas infectantes (L3) na pastagem apresentou valores abaixo de 1000 L3/kg/MS, predominando Trichostrongylus sp. Nenhuma das drogas testadas foi considerada eficaz, evidenciando resistência parasitária múltipla. A aplicação de ferramentas do SICOPA e a adoção de estratégias de manejo e nutrição adequados são fundamentais para estabelecer um programa sanitário sustentável.

The objective of this study was to subsidize a sustainable parasite control program in a flock of goats in São Francisco do Sul, SC, Brazil, applying the integrated system for parasite control. Sixty three adult animals were used in nine groups to perform an anthelmintic efficacy test, faecal egg count (FEC), Famacha method, haematocrit, body condition score, coproculture, and the presence of larvae on pasture. Drug efficacy measured by FEC 15 days post-treatment with closantel, ivermectin + Levamisole + albendazole, albendazole, nitroxinyl, levamisol, abamectin, ivermectin, moxidectin and albendazole was 85, 57, 83, 65, 63, 31, 28, 24 and 0%, respectively. The Famacha score 1 or 2 was given to 81% and scores 3, 4 or 5 were given to 19%, without significant correlation with haematocrit values since the predominant was Trichostrongylus sp. (92%). The count of infective larvae levels on pasture revealed values below 1000 L3/kg/DM predominantly Trichostrongylus sp. None of the tested drugs was effective, showing multiple parasitic resistance. The correct application of the SICOPA and adoption of management strategies and proper nutrition are essential to establish a sustainable health program.