Helminth fauna of odd-toed ungulates in Central Uzbekistan

Helminth infections of odd-toed ungulates represent one of the most significant parasitological problems in livestock production in the arid regions of Central Asia. However, studies of the helminth fauna of odd-toed ungulates in Central Uzbekistan have been virtually absent to date. The present study aimed to investigate the species composition, prevalence, and infection intensity of helminths in horses and donkeys from Central Uzbekistan during 2025–2026. The study was conducted on horses and donkeys from livestock farms in districts of the Central region of Uzbekistan using a combination of parasitological methods, including diagnostic deworming and complete and incomplete helminthological necropsy. A total of 24 helminth species were identified in horses and 19 species in donkeys. The dominant species in horses were Parascaris equorum (prevalence 46.7%), Triodontophorus serratus (43.3%), Strongylus edentatus (36.6%), and Oxyuris equi (33.3%). In donkeys, representatives of Cyathostominae predominated, including Cyathostomum catinatum (prevalence 42.2%; infection intensity 87.5±41.3 specimens; OR=1.85), Cyathostomum coronatum (40.0%; 47.0±7.6 specimens; OR=2.97), Cylicocyclus auriculatus (35.5%; 92.0±41.5 specimens; OR=2.76), and Cylicocyclus nassatus (33.3%; 130.5±59.8 specimens; OR=2.00). Molecular genetic identification of the dominant species Cyathostomum catinatum was performed based on ITS-2 sequences of ribosomal DNA. The isolates obtained from a horse and a donkey from Central Uzbekistan confirmed their species identity as C. catinatum and formed a common phylogenetic cluster with reference sequences from China and Iran.

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