Abstract:
We performed this review to determine the weighted prevalence of equids parasitic infections in Ethiopia. Article searches
on parasites of equids were conducted using PubMed, PubMed Central, Google Scholar, Science Direct, Web of Sciences,
Scopus, AJOLs and Research Gate. A random effects model was used to estimate the weighted prevalence and to study
heterogeneity. The primary searches generated, 3082 potential studies, of which 66 reports met the inclusion criteria and
were included in the meta-analysis. There were 32 reports involving two or more equids species, eighteen on donkeys, and
sixteen on horses. Moreover, fifty of the reports mentioned helminth infections in equids, thirteen on protozoans, and three
on ectoparasites. The estimated weighted prevalence of parasitic infections in equids was 58.3% (95% CI 50.8–65.4%,
I2 = 99%). Helminths were the most prevalent parasites in equids, accounting for 77.1% (95% CI 71.4%, 82%, I2 = 98.5%),
followed by ectoparasites at 35.4% (95% CI 33.4–37.52%, I2 = 88.2%) and haemoparasites (protozoans) at 10.84% (95%
CI 6.6%, 17.3%, I2 = 98.1%). Furthermore, with a prevalence of 82.3% (95% CI 75.9–87.3%, I2 = 97.4%), donkeys were the
most affected equids with helminth parasites. From the reports, we found forty-three species of helminth parasites affecting
equids, including thirty-four nematode species (Strongylus, Cyathostomum, Coronocyclus, Cylicocyclus, Cylicostephanus,
Trichostrongylus, Oesophagodontus, Strongyloides, Triodontophorus, Gyalocephalus, Poteriostomum, Dictyocaulus, Oxyuris,
Habronema, Draschia, Parascaris, Setaria, and Probstmayria species), three trematodes (two Fasciola and one Gastrodiscus
species), three cestodes (two Anoplocephala and one Anoplocephaloides species) and three botfly larvae (one
Rhinoestrus and two Gasterophilus species). Trypanosoma species (T. congolense, T. vivax, T. brucei, T. equiperdum, and
T. evansi), piroplasms (Theileria equi and Babesia caballi), and Eimeria species have also been reported to affect equids.
Ticks (Amblyomma variegatum, A. gemma, Rhipicephalus decoloratus, R. evertisi evertisi, R. pulchellus, R. muhsame, R.
sanguineus, Hyalomma rufipes, and Hy. truncatum) and lice (Bovicola equi and Haematopinus asini) were the ectoparasites
recorded to affect equids. The risk of publication bias across studies was likely to be high due to differences in publication
year and diagnostic techniques. In conclusion, parasitic infections of equids are common in Ethiopia and are caused by a
variety of parasite species, putting the performance and well-being of these packing animals at risk. Therefore, more research
is needed to identify infection risk factors and raise awareness of the consequences of parasitism in order to provide strategies
to mitigate the problems in equids.
