Prevalence and Anthelmintic Resistance of Strongyle Infection of Donkeys in El-Wadi El-Gadid, Egypt

Strongyle species infestation considered the main parasitic problem in equines specially donkeys. Veterinarians and owners used to depend on the affordable drugs, which led to development of resistance. A total number of 215 donkeys of different sexes, ages and in different locations at El Kharga city (El Wadi El Gadid Governorate, Egypt) were examined for detection of strongyle species infection. Fecal samples were collected and examined using floatation test and egg count was done using McMaster technique. The overall prevalence of strongyle species was 73.02% of examined donkeys. 35.03% of infested donkeys showed mild infection, 20.38% showed moderate infection and 44.59% showed severe infection. Prevalence of strongyle species was 75.56% in female donkeys and 71.2% in males. The highest prevalence rate was recorded at Al-Sherka55 (100%) followed by Al-Thawra areas (84.62%). Animals under 3 years old had a slightly higher prevalence than animals 3 – 8 years old, and donkeys > 8 years old showed no infection rate. The therapeutic efficacy of ivermectin, doramectin and pyrantel at the manufacturers recommended dose were evaluated in a controlled experiment, which involved 28 donkeys naturally infected with strongyle species worms. Doramectin was highly efficient against strongyle species worm infection than ivermectin and pyrantel. In ivermectin treated group, the mean FECR% reduced on day 28 to be 91.6%. Also, it has been found that small strongyle EPG counts are returned much quicker than when the drug was first marketed. Mean FECR % in pyrantel treated animals was less than 90% for the whole 28 days of treatment. In conclusion, this was the first study to report prevalence of strongyle species infection in donkeys in El-Kharga city, El-Wadi El-Gadid governorate, Egypt. Additionally, it was the first to report ivermectin resistance in infested donkeys in that area. Donkey’s owners are recommended to use doramectin for treatment of parasitic infection.