The effects of seasonality and group size on fecal egg counts in wild Przewalski’s horses (Equus ferus przewalskii, Poljakov, 1881) in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, Ukraine during 2014 – 2018

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the difference in Fecal Egg Counts (FEC) with regard to group size, age, sex and body condition of wild free-roaming Przewalski’s horses in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone (Ukraine), across different seasons, over a five-year period (2014 – 2018). We hypothesized that horses from larger group sizes would have higher faecal egg counts (FECs). The relationship between FECs and the year and season of sample collection, and age, sex and group size of the horses was analyzed. Generalized linear model using positive strongylid FEC`s as a variable response, was used to investigate the differences in FECs between the groups.

Keywords

• gastrointestinal parasite
• fecal egg counts
• strongylids
• przewalski’s horse
• equus ferus przewalskii
• chernobyl exclusion zone