EQUINE PARASITES
VT-226
Large Animal Theory II
ASCARIDS
Description
Adults are a creamy color
Males measure = 28 cm
Females measure = 50 cm
Ova: Dark brown, thick shelled, spherical
OXYURIS EQUI
Description White
Slender body
Pointed tail
Male measure = 12 mm or less
Females measure = 75 - 150 mm
Ova: Slender, somewhat flattened along
one side
OXYURIS EQUIS Rat Tail
Hypersensitivity
OXYURIS EQUI
Proctitis
OXYURIS EQUI
One side is
characteristically
flattened,
contains an
infective L3
larva. Mucoid
plug at one end.
OXYURIS EQUI
Cluster of eggs
OXYURIS EQUI
L4 larva resemble carpet tacks
with a pointed tail an buccal
capsule that is used to graze on
the intestinal mucosa.
OXYURIS EQUI
White adult females
STRONGYLES
Small - lifecycle
L3 larvae
living free
S. vulgaris, L3 larvae
S. vulgaris
Large buccal capsule,
2 teeth overlapping
S. vulgaris
Clot in the cranial
mesenteric artery
with larva in
cross-section
S. edentatus, no teeth
S. edentatus
Behind the peritoneum
S. edentatus
Liver fibrosis
S. equinus
3 teeth
STRONGYLES
“Plug feeders”
STRONGYLES
Description
Small strongyles Large strongyles
STRONGYLOIDES
Description
5-25mm in length
Ova: Thin walled, larvae inside
STRONGYLOIDES
An embryonated egg and first stage larvae
STRONGYLOIDES
Free-living
female
Free-
living
male
Free-
living
larvae
STRONGYLOIDES
Transmammary
transmission
Anoplocephala & Paranoplocephala
spp.
Description
Adults: Broad, thick, white, 2.5 cm – 80 cm
in length
Average length = 15 cm
Eggs are: Amber – almost clear, shape
varies from almost round – somewhat
square
Anoplocephala egg
Anoplocephala egg
Anoplocephala magna
Anoplocephala perfoliata
Anoplocephala scolex
Anoplocephala ileocecal valve
infestation
HABRONEMA
Description
10 – 15 mm in length
Eggs are: Elongated, thin walled,
larvae inside
HABRONEMA “Summer Sores”
Habronema granulomatous
conjunctivitis
Habronema “summer sores”
Habronema “summer sores”
Gasterophilus
Bots & Bot fly
Generally nonpathogenic
Perforating gastric ulcers
Common
Gasterophilus intestinalis = Most
common species
Gasterophilus
Female
G. intestinalis
Botfly
(bee-like)
Gasterophilus
Eggs cemented to hair
Gasterophilus
Close-up:
Contains an L1 that
will be viable for
several months as it
waits for stimulation
Gasterophilus, mature L3s
Theileria equi Description
Trophozoites are: Basophilic,
pear shaped or round, amoeboid
Maltese Cross
Theileria equi, “Maltese cross”
Theileria equi, “Maltese cross”
Pediculosis (Lice)
Hematopinus asini Damalinia equi
Pediculosis: Alopecia and Tail
Damage
Horse biting lice and scurf