Download IDENTIFICATION AND DETERMINATION OF GASTROINTESTINAL

IDENTIFICATION AND DETERMINATION OF GASTROINTESTINAL
PARASITES IN HORSES IN THE ISLAND OF TIERRA DEL FUEGO, CHILE
Jorge Lohse Muñoz, Patricio Lagos Allen, Sergio Campano Díaz
Introduction: Onamonte farm is in a commune named Timaukel (53º54'57"S68º53,24`88"W), located in the Tierra del Fuego Island in the Magellan and Chilean
Antarctic, 400 Km to the south of Punta Arenas, Chile, being the most austral region of
the world. It has a surface of 50.000 ha. The subpolar oceanic climate of this region is
very inhospitable (cold, windy and rainy) with temperatures that range between -3ºC and
10ºC. In this zone there are Chilean crossbreed draft horses and Chilean Criollos besides
wild horses called “Baguales”. The gastrointestinal parasites of equines have been
characterized in different points of Chile, nevertheless, research on parasitic fauna of
horses in Tierra del Fuego Island have not been realized so far.
Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify and determine the species of
gastrointestinal parasites affecting horses in the island of Timaukel, Tierra del Fuego.
Methods: Feces were collected from 70 horses between the 13th and 18th of January
2009. The fecal samples were extracted directly from the anus, deposited in individual
bags and refrigerated before being analyzed according to the coprologic technique of
sedimentation-flotation in zinc sulfate 70% (modified Teuscher). It was also used a
method for culture and recovery of gastrointestinal strongyle larvae for their
determination. Samples were processed in the Agronomy laboratory of the Universidad
de Viña del Mar. The results were expressed in percentage.
Results: All the population samples were positive for gastrointestinal parasites. 100%
(70/70) were positive to egg of Strongyles, 70% (49/70) belong to the Trichonema
longibursatum and 30% (21/70) to Strongylus vulgaris kind, besides 72.85% (51/70) to
Parascaris equorum and 58.57% (41/70) to Anoplocephala perfoliata (Cestoda).
Trematodes were not found in any sample.
Discussion and Conclusions: In the study area, where there was no anthelmintic
management, the same parasites like elsewhere in the country were found. This study is
the first demonstration of the presence of gastrointestinal parasites in horses in the island
Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad de Viña del Mar,
Universidad de Viña del Mar, Agua Santa Nº 7255, Viña del Mar, Chile. jlohse@uvm.cl
of Tierra del Fuego.
Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad de Viña del Mar,
Universidad de Viña del Mar, Agua Santa Nº 7255, Viña del Mar, Chile. jlohse@uvm.cl