A review of endo and ecto parasites of equids in Iraq

This article briefly reviews most studies in Iraq, and expressed common zoonotic and non-zoonotic parasites. Currently, protozoa, helminthes, hard and soft ticks have been properly reported, as a result of a large number of parasites were described and distributed in all Iraq. The protozoa frequently recorded included species belonging to the genera: Toxoplasma, Theileria, Babesia, plasmodium, Anaplasma, Microfilaria, cryptosporidium, giardia, Eimeria, Balantidium and Entamoeba. The helminths frequently reported of different of the genera: Dicrocoelium, Habronema, Echinococcus, Dictyocaulus, Trichostrongylus, Parascaris, Oxyuris, Cyathostomum, Anoplocephala, Setaria and Fasciola can affected all categories of equines, whether on grass or stabled. Also, hard, soft ticks and Sarcoptes were the only ectoparasites frequently recorded. Parasitic fly species of the genera Gasterophilus were also recorded. Parasitic infections of equines in Iraq are frequent and caused by a diversity of parasites, which threatens the health and causes major economic losses. Infected equines with piroplasms are suffering from specific clinical signs: (emaciation, fever, pale mucosal membranes, jaundice, colic and diarrhoea) in addition companied with anemia, leukocytosis and hyperbilirubinemia. The parasitic infections associated with the several risk factors (age, gender, activity, location and season) and more risky in zoonotic parasites to horsemen. All treatment for the parasitic infections should be through the intramuscular route except ivermectin orally. Control of vector and make further researches depend on modern methods not only coprological examinations to identify distributed species and chronic infections.