Eimeria leuckarti in equids from properties in the Zona da Mata of Minas Gerais

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5380/avs.v31i1.98405

Keywords:

Coccidiosis. Eimeriosis. Parasitic diseases.

Abstract

Brazil has a significant population of equids, which makes the equine industry an important contribution on the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Parasitic diseases are prevalent, particularly those affecting the gastrointestinal tract, which can cause colic, diarrhea, and, in severe cases, result in fatality. Among these diseases, the protozoan Eimeria leuckarti, a parasite of the small intestine in horses, mules, and zebras, predominantly affects foals. When E. leuckarti causes clinical disease, symptoms such as acute and chronic diarrhea, abdominal pain, colic, and urticaria may occur, although it often presents asymptomatically. The present study analyzed 247 foals from eight stud farms located in the Zona da Mata of Minas Gerais (ZMM) region, encompassing the cities of Coimbra, Guaraciaba, Ponte Nova, Ervália, São Geraldo, Ubá, Teixeiras, and Viçosa. Data were collected through questionnaires administered to owners regarding the animals' production history and characteristics, and coproparasitological examinations were conducted using the Sheather technique at the Laboratory of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases of the Veterinary Department of the Federal University of Viçosa. The collected data were organized into Microsoft Excel spreadsheets and subjected to statistical analysis using IBM SPSS Statistics software, version 25, applying Measures of Association tests and Yates-corrected Chi-Square tests, with a significance level set at p < 0.05. The prevalence of E. leuckarti in the ZMM region was 7.3%, and silage feeding was identified as a risk factor for eimeriosis in foals (p < 0.01). Other factors, such as feed type, housing conditions, and fecal disposal, did not show statistically significant differences.

Author Biographies

Talita Oliveira Maciel Fontes, Universidade Federal de Viçosa

Master in the area of ​​parasitic diseases in the Department of Veterinary Medicine of the Federal University of Viçosa. Graduated in Veterinary Medicine from the Faculty of Science and Technology of Viçosa (UNIVIÇOSA 2018), professional development program in Large Animal Clinic and Surgery from the Federal University of Viçosa (2018), residency in Ruminant and Equine Clinic and Surgery from the same institution, veterinarian in the Família do Leite program at the Teaching, Research and Extension Unit in Dairy Cattle, Federal University of Viçosa.

Bárbara Cristina Félix Nogueira, Universidade Federal de Viçosa

PhD in Veterinary Medicine, Master in Animal Biology and Zootechnician from the Federal University of Viçosa. High school and technical course in computer science from the Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Southern Minas Gerais - Campus Inconfidentes. During her undergraduate studies, she participated in the University Extension Project (PIBEX), worked as Director of Human Resources Management and Advisory Board at EJZ Consultoria Agropecuária (Junior Animal Science Company - UFV), was a PIBIC/CNPq Scientific Initiation Scholarship holder in the area of ​​Animal Genetic Improvement, with dairy goats. During her master's degree, she worked with mirid bugs of economic importance, with a scholarship granted by Fapemig. During her doctorate, she worked with veterinary parasitology, focusing on ticks of medical-veterinary importance and zoonotic pathogens that use ticks as vectors. In his postdoctoral studies, he worked on the development of vaccine antigens against Babesia bovis based on gene editing and reverse vaccinology at Embrapa Gado de Leite.

Artur Kanadani Campos, Universidade Federal de Viçosa

Veterinarian from the Federal University of Viçosa (2000), Master in Veterinary Medicine from the Federal University of Viçosa (2002) and PhD in Parasitology from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (2006). Adjunct Professor at UFV in Parasitology, working with an emphasis on Helminthology, mainly in the following themes: biological control of Trichostrongylid nematodes, control of endo and ectoparasitosis of animals and general parasitology.

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Published

2026-02-18

How to Cite

Oliveira Maciel Fontes, T., Oliveira Soares, G., Félix Nogueira, B. C., & Kanadani Campos, A. (2026). Eimeria leuckarti in equids from properties in the Zona da Mata of Minas Gerais. Archives of Veterinary Science, 31(1). https://doi.org/10.5380/avs.v31i1.98405

Issue

Vol. 31 No. 1 (2026): Advances at the Frontier of Veterinary Science

Section

Veterinary Parasitology

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