Department of Equine Science, Otterbein University, Westerville, OH.
Department of Biology and Earth Science, Otterbein University, Westerville, OH.
J Equine Vet Sci. 2021 Jun;101:103431. doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2021.103431. Epub 2021 Feb 24.
Identification of factors associated with parasite infestation in horses could reduce frequency of anthelmintic administration and slow development of anthelmintic resistance. The study aim was to evaluate management factors, equine characteristics, and equine salivary cortisol concentrations for association with strongyle-type egg shedding levels. As immunocompromised horses appear to be more susceptible to parasite infestation, it was hypothesized that salivary cortisol concentration could be associated with parasite egg shedding. Saliva and fecal samples were collected from 200 horses across the state of Ohio. Equine management questionnaires were administered to barn managers. Fecal egg counts were performed with a modified Stoll method, and saliva samples were analyzed for salivary cortisol with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). A total of 24 variables were tested for association with fecal egg count results (dichotomized with 50 eggs per gram as a cutoff) using chi-square test of independence, Fisher's exact test, independent t-test, or Mann Whitney U test. The sample of horses was partitioned into tertiles based on salivary cortisol concentrations (i.e., low <0.052 µg/dL, medium 0.052-0.0712 µg/dL, and high >0.0712 µg/dL). Variables with P < .30 were analyzed for association with fecal egg count with multiple logistic regression. The final logistic regression model (P< .05) included horse age, horse salivary cortisol concentration, and pasture mowing frequency. Older horses had higher adjusted odds of having <50 EPG. Pasture mowing frequency of at least once per week increased the adjusted odds of <50 EPG. Horses with cortisol concentrations in the highest tertile had increased adjusted odds of having <50 EPG.
确定与马寄生虫感染相关的因素可以减少驱虫药的使用频率，并减缓驱虫药耐药性的发展。本研究旨在评估管理因素、马的特征和马唾液皮质醇浓度与马蛔虫卵排放量之间的关系。由于免疫功能低下的马似乎更容易受到寄生虫感染，因此假设唾液皮质醇浓度可能与寄生虫卵排放有关。从俄亥俄州的 200 匹马中采集了唾液和粪便样本。向马厩经理发放了马管理调查问卷。使用改良的斯托尔法进行粪便虫卵计数，使用酶联免疫吸附试验（ELISA）分析唾液样本中的唾液皮质醇。使用卡方检验、Fisher 确切检验、独立 t 检验或 Mann Whitney U 检验共检测了 24 个变量与粪便虫卵计数结果的关系（用 50 个卵/克作为截断值进行二分类）。根据唾液皮质醇浓度将马样本分为三分位（即低 <0.052μg/dL、中 0.052-0.0712μg/dL 和高 >0.0712μg/dL）。对 P<.30 的变量进行分析，以确定与粪便虫卵计数的关系，采用多元逻辑回归。最终的逻辑回归模型（P<.05）包括马的年龄、马的唾液皮质醇浓度和牧场割草频率。年龄较大的马有<50 EPG 的调整后优势比更高。每周至少割草一次增加了<50 EPG 的调整后优势比。皮质醇浓度最高三分位的马有增加<50 EPG 的调整后优势比。
