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Prevalence and associated risk factors of trematode infections in equids from selected practices in Gauteng, South Africa

Dissertation (MSc (Companion Animal Clinical Studies))--University of Pretoria, 2022.

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Other Authors: Viljoen, Adrienne
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: University of Pretoria 2023
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access_status_str Open Access
author2 Viljoen, Adrienne
author_browse Viljoen, Adrienne
author_facet Viljoen, Adrienne
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv © 2021 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria.
description Dissertation (MSc (Companion Animal Clinical Studies))--University of Pretoria, 2022.
format Thesis
id oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/92180
institution University of Pretoria (South Africa)
language English
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:38:04.955Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
publishDate 2023
publishDateRange 2023
publishDateSort 2023
publisher University of Pretoria
publisherStr University of Pretoria
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source_str UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
spelling oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/92180 Prevalence and associated risk factors of trematode infections in equids from selected practices in Gauteng, South Africa Viljoen, Adrienne summerms@absamail.co.za Schwan, Ernst Volker Maitland-Stuart, Summer UCTD Equids Gastrodiscus aegyptiacus Fasciola hepatica Visser filtration Sedimentation after Benedek Veterinary sciences theses SDG-03 SDG-03: Good health and well-being Dissertation (MSc (Companion Animal Clinical Studies))--University of Pretoria, 2022. Reasons for performing study: Prevalence of infection with Gastrodiscus aegyptiacus and Fasciola hepatica has not been established in equids presenting with the relevant clinical signs. Various environmental and management practices with regards to equid husbandry are hypothesised to place equids at greater risk of infection, but no link has been established. There are currently two testing techniques for patent gastrodiscosis in equids, however the difference in accuracy between the tests has not yet been established. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of patent gastrodiscosis and fasciolosis in equids presenting with clinical signs of infection, to determine the difference in sensitivity and specificity between the two currently available testing techniques and to establish which management and environmental factors place equids at a greater risk of infection. Study design: Analytical cross-sectional study design. Methods: Samples were obtained from equids presenting to the Equine Clinic of the Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic Hospital, as well as three equine private practices in the Gauteng region (Fourways Equine Clinic, Glen Austin Equine Clinic and Pierre van Ryneveld Large Animal Clinic) and these samples were categorised according to their reason for seeking veterinary care, namely: 1) equids presenting with a gastrointestinal complaint, namely chronic weight loss and/or diarrhoea and/or recurrent colic, 2) equids presenting for elective procedures and/or non-gastrointestinal reasons Two fresh faecal balls were collected from each equid and each sample underwent testing using both the Sedimentation after Benedek and the Visser-filtration techniques. A questionnaire was completed by the primary caretaker for each sampled equid, with questions relating to the equids management and environment in which they are kept. Results: The overall prevalence of infection with G. aegyptiacus was found to be 11.6%. The prevalence of horses which tested positive and showed clinical signs of gastrointestinal dysfunction was 8.9% whereas the prevalence of horses which tested positive and were healthy at the time of testing was 15.5%. The overall prevalence of infection with F. hepatica was found to be 4.3%. The prevalence of horses which tested positive and showed clinical signs of gastrointestinal dysfunction was 4.9% whereas the prevalence of horses which tested positive and were healthy at the time of testing was 3.6%. One horse had co-infection of both trematodes. No statistically significant difference in detection sensitivity was found between the sedimentation method compared to the filtration method. Access to a water body showed a greater risk of infection with gastrodiscosis, whilst extensive management and grazing had a greater risk for infection with fasciolosis. Exposure of horses to livestock was found to increase risk of infection of horses with gastrodiscosis. Previous treatment of a horse for gastrodiscosis, or treatment with a product containing activity against this specific trematode, had an increased risk of infection with fasciolosis. Conclusions: Testing for gastrodiscosis should not be restricted to horses showing signs of gastrointestinal dysfunction. The prevalence of fasciolosis infection in horses in South Africa may be underestimated. The use of either faecal testing technique (Visser filtration and sedimentation after Benedek) is acceptable for trematode egg detection. Furthermore, access to a water body has a greater risk of infection for gastrodiscosis whilst extensive management practices and previous treatment with an anthelmintic targeted against gastrodiscosis had a greater risk of infection for fasciolosis. Companion Animal Clinical Studies MSc (Companion Animal Clinical Studies) Unrestricted 2023-09-04T13:01:37Z 2023-09-04T13:01:37Z 2023-04 2022 Dissertation * A2023 http://hdl.handle.net/2263/92180 DOI: https://doi.org/10.25403/UPresearchdata.21940199.v1 en © 2021 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf University of Pretoria
spellingShingle UCTD
Equids
Gastrodiscus aegyptiacus
Fasciola hepatica
Visser filtration
Sedimentation after Benedek
Veterinary sciences theses SDG-03
SDG-03: Good health and well-being
Prevalence and associated risk factors of trematode infections in equids from selected practices in Gauteng, South Africa
title Prevalence and associated risk factors of trematode infections in equids from selected practices in Gauteng, South Africa
title_full Prevalence and associated risk factors of trematode infections in equids from selected practices in Gauteng, South Africa
title_fullStr Prevalence and associated risk factors of trematode infections in equids from selected practices in Gauteng, South Africa
title_full_unstemmed Prevalence and associated risk factors of trematode infections in equids from selected practices in Gauteng, South Africa
title_short Prevalence and associated risk factors of trematode infections in equids from selected practices in Gauteng, South Africa
title_sort prevalence and associated risk factors of trematode infections in equids from selected practices in gauteng south africa
topic UCTD
Equids
Gastrodiscus aegyptiacus
Fasciola hepatica
Visser filtration
Sedimentation after Benedek
Veterinary sciences theses SDG-03
SDG-03: Good health and well-being
url http://hdl.handle.net/2263/92180