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Probstmayria vivipara pinworms in ponies.
Summary
The equine pinworm, Probstmayria vivipara, has an unusual endogenous life cycle within the digestive tract. Experimental ponies showed infection and self-cure, with no clinical signs observed despite high worm burdens.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Parasitology
- Equine Health
- Nematology
Background:
- Probstmayria vivipara is a small equine pinworm.
- Its life cycle is endogenous, occurring entirely within the host's digestive tract.
Purpose of the Study:
- To observe the presence and dynamics of Probstmayria vivipara in experimental ponies over an 11-year period.
- To investigate the unusual endogenous life cycle of this nematode.
Main Methods:
- Observations were conducted on seven experimental ponies from 1967 to 1978.
- Fecal examinations, postmortem examinations, and necropsies were performed.
- Infection transmission possibly occurred via coprophagy.
Main Results:
- Initially, four of seven ponies were positive for pinworms after thiabendazole treatment.
- Infection spread to all ponies, likely through coprophagy.
- Four of seven ponies spontaneously cleared the pinworm infection.
- Principal infection sites were the cecum and right ventral colon.
- No clinical signs were observed, even with high worm burdens.
Conclusions:
- Probstmayria vivipara exhibits an endogenous life cycle within the equine digestive tract.
- Equine hosts can spontaneously clear pinworm infections.
- The presence of large numbers of P. vivipara does not necessarily lead to clinical signs in ponies.