Publication Database

Characterizing mixed strongyle infections in equines using cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1-based deep amplicon sequencing (2025)

Art

Vortrag

Autoren

Klass, Luise Grace (WE 13)

Krücken, Jürgen (WE 13)

Mbedi, Susan

Sparmann, Sara

Schenk, Thore (WE 13)

Andreotti, Sandro

von Samsom-Himmelstjerna, Georg (WE 13)

Kongress

14th PhD and Doctoral Symposium

Berlin, 18.09.2025

Quelle

The 14th PhD and Doctoral Symposium : Abstract booklet — Berliner Tierärztliche Gesellschaft e.V., Gesellschaft der Freunde und Förderer der Veterinärmedizin an der Freien Universität Berlin e.V. (Hrsg.)

— S. 16

Sprache

Englisch

Verweise

URL (Volltext): https://www.calameo.com/books/00803743785c6e95a9210

Kontakt

Institut für Parasitologie und Tropenveterinärmedizin

Robert-von-Ostertag-Str. 7-13
14163 Berlin
+49 30 838 62310
parasitologie@vetmed.fu-berlin.de

Abstract / Zusammenfassung

Introduction: Mixed strongyle infections are highly prevalent in equines worldwide and can cause life-threatening disease, especially in young horses. Small strongyle species involvement and pathogenesis are poorly understood. Data on foals and broodmares is lacking.

Materials and Methods: Strongyle eggs samples (n=46) were collected from foals and broodmares during a longitudinal study in Germany in 2022. Strongyle species were identified using cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (CO1) deep amplicon sequencing. Prevalence was assessed for all detected strongyle species. Strongyle communities were compared between foals and mares, by analysing species richness as well as alpha and beta diversity.

Results: Overall, 16 small strongyles species were identified in the study population. Large strongyles were not detected. Significantly higher prevalences in mares were found for Cylicostephanus goldi, Cylicostephanus minutus OTU II and Cylicocyclus ashworthi (p<0.05), while Cylicostephanus calicatus OTU II was more prevalent in foals (p<0.01). Richness (Chao 1 index, p<0.001) and diversity (Inverse Simpson index: p<0.01), based on amplicon-sequencing-variants, were significantly higher in mares than foals (Mann-Whitney U test). Bray-Curtis (BCD) and Jaccard dissimilarity (JD) comparison for beta diversity showed distinct clusters for mares and foals, with some overlap and moderate model fit. PERMANOVA showed significant differences between mares and foals (p<0.001), explaining 2.6 – 4.0% of beta diversity variance (BCD: r2=0.040, JD: r2=0.026).

Conclusion: Strongyle communities differed between foals and broodmares, adding to our understanding of mixed parasite infections under conventional husbandry practices. Four small strongyle species, including two cryptic species, showed possible age-associations. Non-random sampling and differences in anthelmintic treatment schemes limited the power of the study.