Nemabiome sequencing reveals seasonal and age associated patterns of strongyle infection and high prevalence of <i>Strongylus vulgaris</i> in Alberta feral horses.

ABSTRACT: Unmanaged feral horses, naïve to dewormers, offer a unique opportunity to study natural communities of equine parasites. These communities may include parasites that are rare in managed populations, and these may be transmitted to domestic horses in areas where there is contact between feral and domestic equine populations. There have been only a few studies of gastrointestinal parasite populations in horses, and very few from North American equine populations. This study aimed to gain insights into parasite biology through identification of the strongyle parasite species infecting feral horses in Alberta, Canada, and to test for species-specific infection patterns across season and horse age. Fecal samples (N = 149) were collected from unique individuals in the Sundre Equine Management Zo

SUBMITTER: Ochigbo GO 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12167826 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature