Diagnosis and therapeutic management of strongylosis in equines

Faecal samples of eleven horses were evaluated by faecal sedimentation technique for gastrointestinal parasites, out of which nine (81.81 percent) were found to be positive for strongylosis. For species identification, all positive samples were subjected to coproculture that displayed only Cyathostomum sp. larvae. All infected equines were treated with Fenbendazole @ 5mg/kg b. wt. Fecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) was conducted on 7th and 14th day after treatment which showed 63.63 percent and 86.1 percent reduction respectively. Eggs re-appearance was observed in one horse on 42nd day, revealing 88.88 percent efficacy of Fenbendazole and suggested need to switch to more efficacious drugs/ selective anthelmintic therapy for effective control of equine strongylosis.