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Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the morphological features of 7 endocommensal ciliates, B. (s. str.) postciliata, B. (s. str.) piriformis, B. (s. str.) nana, B. (C.) elongata, B. (C.) triangularis, B. (F.) dolichosoma, and B. (F.) inflata belonging to the genus Bundleia, which exist in the hindgut of 15 Rahvan horses and 15 racing horses living in the vicinity of Izmir and to investigate the ontogenesis in the Bundleia genus., Methods: Specimens were obtained from 30 horses and were fixed with 10% formalin. The morphological features of the species were investigated with the pyridinated silver carbonate impregnation and silver nitrate impregnation techniques at the level of light microscopy., Results: The morphological features of Bundleia spp. were found to be similar to the original descriptions, and it was detected that ontogenesis in the Bundleia genus exhibited suitability with other ciliate species in the Entodiniomorphida order., Conclusion: We conclude that the geographical variation and feeding habits of host animals are important for evaluating the biometric data of species.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the cytological features of 2 endocommensal ciliates, P. colpoidea and P. minuta belonging to genus Paraisotricha found in the hindgut of 15 Turk rahvan and 15 English and Arabic horses from Izmir, compare the morphological characters of species with their original descriptions and previous reports and discuss the similarities and differences., Methods: The cytological features of two endocommensal ciliates were investigated with the pyridinated silver carbonate impregnation and silver nitrate impregnation techniques at the level of light microscopy., Results: Specimens from our horses were found to be similar to the original descriptions on the basis of cytological features, morphological characters and biometric data., Conclusion: We have concluded that the geographical variation and feeding habits of the host animals are important for evaluating the biometric data of species.

Hemiprorodon gymnoposthium was investigated in the intestine of horses, found in Cyprus. It was found in four of fifth horses examined and thus had a frequency of appearence of 80%. This study reports for the first time the presence of Hemiprorodon gymnoposthium in the intestine of Equids in Cyprus. In addition, it is the second report from the world. Specimens were found to be similar to the original description on the basis of morphological characters and biometric data.

Blepharocorys curvigula Gassovsky, 1919 found in the intestine of domestic horses (Equus caballus Linnaeus, 1758), living in the vicinity of Izmir was investigated. It was seen in nine of the thirteen horses examined (69%). This study reports the presence of Blepharocorys curvigula in the intestine of Equids for the first time in Turkey. Specimens were found to be similar to the original descriptions on the basis of morphological characters and biometric data.

The aim of this study was to compare the diagnosis of Babesia caballi and Theileria equi by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and microscopic examination of blood specimens collected from show and sport horses in the region of Ankara in 2004. The blood specimens were collected from randomly selected 200 show and sport horses in the region of Ankara during the tick season as well as before and after the tick season for PCR testing. At the same time, Giemsa stained peripheral blood smears were examined for the presence of Babesia spp. and also the horses were examined for the presence of ticks. Of the 200 horse blood samples analyzed, 3% were found to be positive by microscopic examination and and 10 % (B.caballi %3; T.equi %7) by the polymerase chain reaction. The difference between these two methods was confirmed to be statistically important (p < 0,001). This is the first study in which Babesia species were investigated in horses in Turkey using the PCR method. Theileria equi was found to be more prevalent than Babesia caballi.