The Prepatent Period of Some Horse Nematodes Determined by Experimental Infection

Abstract

Experimental infections with strongyles were carried out using ponies reared worm-free. Infection with Strongylus vulgaris was produced by artificially administering larvae to housed ponies. Infection with small strongyles was produced both by this method and also by exposing hitherto worm free ponies to heavily infested pasture. The shortest prepatent periods found were: S. vulgaris, 149–156 days; Triodontophorus spp. and Poteriostomum spp., 63–70 days and trichonemid species 35–42 days.