The gastro-intestinal parasites community, of the Przewalskis horse, Equus przewalskii Poljakov, 1881, and the domestic horse in the Chernobyl exclusion zone

A diagnostic deworming of 21 Przewalski horses, free−living in the Chernobyl exclusion zone Ukraine, and of six stabled domestic horses, has been conducted eighteen years after the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. This survey yielded 31 species (of 5 families and 3 classes, 28 species of nematodes, 1 species of cestodes, and 2 larvae of botflies). A total 29 and 19 helmith species has been recorded in the Przewalski horse and domestic horse respectively. Only six helmith species were common for the two horse species. Species from the family Strongylidae constituted the dominant helmith group. Four cyathostomine species (Cyathostomum catinatum, Cylicostephanus minutes, C. longibursatus, Cylicocyclus nassatus) formed the majority of helmith parasites both in the Przewalski and domestic horses. The presently reported study revealed that Przewalski's horses keep their typical biological features and high resistance to parasitic infections. A substantial growth of heard was observed as well as good clinical health state of horses. This can be an argument favouring the use of Przewalski horses in re-naturalization of ecological disaster areas.