Date of Award

4-14-2023

Document Type

Distinction Paper

Degree Name

Exercise Science and Health Promotion-BS

Department

Equine Science

Advisor

Steffanie Burk, Ph.D.

First Committee Member

Sheri Birmingham, D.V.M.

Second Committee Member

Jeff Lehman, Ph.D.

Third Committee Member

Steffanie Burk, Ph.D

Keywords

Equine Science, Benzyl Isothiocyanate (BITC), Papin, Egg Embryonation

Subject Categories

Animal Sciences | Higher Education

Abstract

Ascarids (Parascaris equorum and Parascaris univalens) are a common type of intestinal parasite found in foals. By the age of one year, most horses have built a natural immunity to Parascaris spp. However, Parascaris spp. are known to be the most pathogenic type of parasite in foals and can cause poor growth, weight loss, colic, and even death. Unfortunately, Parascaris spp. have developed resistance to most anthelmintic drugs. Prior studies have found promising results for the use of ground papaya seeds as a short-term anthelmintic. Further research has shown similar results when determining the effectiveness of compounds found in papayas, benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC) and papain, as anthelmintics for equine strongyles. The aim of this in vitro study was to determine if compounds from papaya; BITC and papain, reduce Parascaris spp. larval embryonation. To determine whether ascarid eggs would embryonate in the presence of these compounds, eggs were incubated in different concentrations of BITC and papain in triplicate in well plates. Experimental wells were compared to control wells with either no chemical exposure or with concentrations of pyrantel (a commonly used ascarid anthelmintic). After exposure, the number of embryonated eggs were counted using an inverted microscope and were expressed as the percentage of the total and compared to each other and the control wells. A two-way completely randomized ANOVA was used to compare mean egg embryonation among treatments and chemical concentrations. Results from the two-way ANOVA test concluded that there was no statistically significant difference between the proportion of larvated ascarid eggs found in pyrantel, BITC, and papain at each chemical concentration. However, there was a trend for differences by compound and as papain concentrations increased, the proportion of larvation decreased.

Licensing Permission

Copyright, all rights reserved. Fair Use

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