Enhanced detection of equine strongyles: Insights from morphological and nemabiome metabarcoding approaches in northern Iran.
Authors: Mohtasebi Sina, Ahn Sangwook, Karimi Mahan, Saberi Mohammad, Gilleard John S, Poissant Jocelyn
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
# Enhanced detection of equine strongyles: Insights from morphological and nemabiome metabarcoding approaches in northern Iran Strongyle infections remain a persistent challenge in equine practice, with over 60 species capable of causing disease ranging from mild performance impairment to life-threatening colic—particularly where *Strongylus vulgaris*, with its pathogenic larval migration through arterial walls, establishes populations. Traditional faecal egg count methods fail to differentiate between species, whilst morphological identification of larvae demands considerable expertise and time investment, creating a diagnostic gap that often leaves practitioners unable to target anthelmintic protocols precisely. This Iranian research directly compared conventional morphological analysis with DNA metabarcoding (nemabiome sequencing) to assess which approach more reliably identifies strongyle species composition in equine faeces. The metabarcoding method revealed substantially greater species-level resolution and sensitivity, detecting infections that morphological examination missed or misidentified, providing a more comprehensive profile of parasite burdens within individual horses. For equine practitioners—particularly those managing populations with suspected anthelmintic resistance or clinical strongyle-associated disease—these findings suggest that molecular diagnostics could fundamentally reshape how we approach parasite surveillance, enabling evidence-based selective treatment decisions rather than blanket dosing protocols and facilitating earlier intervention against high-risk species before clinical complications develop.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Consider DNA metabarcoding as an alternative to traditional morphological identification when accurate species-level strongyle diagnosis is needed for treatment decisions
- •Recognize that standard faecal egg counts cannot differentiate between strongyle species, potentially delaying appropriate management of high-risk infections like S. vulgaris
- •Integrating both morphological and molecular diagnostic approaches may provide the most comprehensive parasite surveillance on your operation
Key Findings
- •DNA metabarcoding provides species-level resolution for strongyle detection superior to traditional faecal egg counts
- •Strongylus vulgaris represents a higher health risk due to migratory behaviour compared to other strongyle species
- •Morphological and nemabiome metabarcoding approaches can be integrated to enhance diagnostic accuracy for equine strongyles