A coprological survey of the principal endoparasitic infections in donkeys in Italy.

In Italy despite the increasing use of donkeys in leisure activities, onotherapy and milk production, there are no epidemiological data regarding the parasites affecting this species. A survey was conducted to determine the prevalence of the principal endoparasitic infections in 50 donkey farms. Between March 2012-2015, faecal samples were collected from 961 donkeys and examined individually using a modified McMaster technique. In addition a centrifugation/flotation technique (Proudman test) and a sedimentation technique were used for the diagnosis of Anoplocephalidae and Fasciola hepatica eggs, respectively. On each farm pooled coprocoltures were made. Strongyles were the most common parasitic species found, with a prevalence of 88.5%. 11.4% of donkeys were not infected and infection intensity was lower than the donkey cut-off selective therapy of 300 eggs per gram (epg) in 33.4% of animals. The other epg values were 300–500 in 14.3%, 501–1,000 in 26.0%, 1,001-2,000 in 12.8% and > 2,000 in 2.1% of donkeys. In all tested farms, coprocoltures revealed the presence of Cyathostomes (100%) followed by Strongylus vulgaris in 13 farms (26%), Poteriostomum spp. (24%), Triodontophorus spp. (6%) and S. edentatus (4%). Other parasites found in studied donkeys were: Oxyuris equi (7.8%), Dictyocaulus arnfieldi (4.4%), Parascaris equorum (2.8%), Anoplocephala perfoliata (1.1%) Eimeria leuckarti (0.6%) and Strongyloides westeri (0.1%). No positivity was detected for F. hepatica. This study represents the first large-scale survey in Italy and added data to the parasitological scenario of donkey population.