Parasitismo gastrintestinal e hematologia em equinos e asininos da mesorregião da aglomeração urbana, são luís, maranhão

Abstract

This research paper aimed to evaluate the hematological changes related to natural gastrointestinal parasite load in infected horses and donkeys on the island of Sao Luis, MA. The animals selected were 57 horses and 37 donkeys, mixed breed, varied ages and weight, were randomly selected. Fecal examinations were performed by Willis-Mollay, Gordon-Whitlock, and Robert O'Sulivan methods. The animals were divided into four groups according to parasitic load and animal species in: group 1 - donkeys with EPG ≤ 500; group 2 - donkeys with EPG > 500; group 3 - horses with EPG ≤ 500, and group 4 - horses with EPG > 500. The results obtained in eggs per gram of feces counting (EPG) showed a variation from 0 to 3,000 EPG for horses and 0 to 6,900 for donkeys; the larval culture results in both species showed a higher frequency of Cyathostominae - Strongylus vulgaris association which resulted, mainly in the group of donkeys with ≤ 500 EPG, high average values in leukocyte, rod cells, eosinophils, and lymphocytes total counting. Such findings indicate the existence of mild leukocytosis with eosinophilia associated or not with the elevation of other cells, showing that eosinophilia was a marker for the presence of intestinal parasitism for donkeys, even when they have low values of EPG counting.