Influences of age on the prevalence of parasitic infections among donkeys in Erode District, Tamilnadu, India

Abstract

Parasitic infections are known to affect donkeys causing considerable mortality and morbidity. Fresh faecal samples were directly collected from the rectum of donkeys belonging to four age groups viz.< 0.5 years, 0.5 - 3.0 years, 3.1 - 8.0 years and > 8 years. Donkeys of different age groups in the present study had slightly different helminth profiles. Young donkeys (<0.5 years) generally had a high prevalence of Strongyloides. They seemed to have less number of Strongyles and Ascarids. But the level of Strongyles and Ascarids increased when the donkeys became older, but then decreased. It may be due to the development of age immunity to Strongyles and Ascarids in adult donkeys. Strongyloides were found to less in older donkeys.