Overwintering of non-migrating strongyles in donkeys in the highveld of Zimbabwe.

Three two-year-old male donkeys from a communal area in the highveld of Zimbabwe were necropsied in July, the middle of the dry season. The strongylid populations of the three animals were very similar. Approximately 80 per cent of these populations consisted of adult worms and only just over 10 per cent were early third stage larvae. The most common species were Cylicostephanus minutus, Cyathostomum montgomeryi, Cylicocyclus nassatus and Cylicocyclus auriculatus. Nine other species of non-migratory strongyles were present in low numbers in one or more of the donkeys. These results indicate that survival of non-migratory strongyles of donkeys throughout the dry season in the highveld of Zimbabwe primarily occurs in the adult stage and not as inhibited early third stage larvae.