Colic in a working horse population in Egypt: Prevalence and risk factors.
Authors: Salem S E, Scantlebury C E, Ezzat E, Abdelaal A M, Archer D C
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
# Colic in Working Horses: Egyptian Population Study A substantial colic burden affects working horses in Egypt, with over half the surveyed population experiencing at least one episode in a 12-month period (54.6% prevalence). Salem and colleagues conducted cross-sectional interviews with 350 working horse owners alongside clinical examinations—including dental assessments of 342 horses and serological tapeworm testing of 100 animals—to identify risk and protective factors in this understudied population. Severe dental disease emerged as the strongest risk factor (6.8-fold increased odds), whilst stereotypic behaviours and dry-season ground corn feeding also significantly elevated colic risk; conversely, rice bran supplementation during the growing season and pica-related behaviours (geophagia/coprophagia) were protective. The finding that recent anthelmintic use associated with higher colic incidence warrants careful interpretation, potentially reflecting owner response to visible parasitism rather than causation, and the moderate tapeworm burden (26% moderate-to-severe infection) suggests parasite control remains relevant despite this association. For practitioners working with working horse populations, these findings underscore the importance of proactive dental management and considered feeding strategies adjusted to seasonal forage availability, whilst highlighting that colic prevention likely requires multifactorial approaches rather than single interventions.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Over half of working horses in this population experienced colic annually — dental health surveillance should be a priority, as severe dental disease carries nearly 7-fold increased risk
- •Monitor dietary changes seasonally; ground corn in dry season increased colic risk while rice bran in green season was protective, suggesting forage quality and feed composition matter significantly
- •Stereotypic behaviours and recent deworming were associated with colic history; reconsider blanket anthelmintic protocols and investigate underlying causes of stereotypies
Key Findings
- •12-month prevalence of colic was 54.6% in this working horse population in Egypt
- •Severe dental disease increased colic risk 6.8-fold (OR 6.8, P<0.001)
- •Stereotypic behaviour, ground corn feeding, and recent anthelmintic use were associated with increased colic risk
- •Rice bran feeding in green season and geophagia/coprophagia were protective factors against colic