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The aims of the study were to determine fecundity of several strongylid species parasitizing domestic horses and analyze possible relations between numbers of eggs in female uteri and size of both the eggs and the nematodes as well as the influence of fecundity on proportion of species in the strongylid community. Twenty-five specimens from each of 15 strongylid species (Strongylus vulgaris, Strongylus edentatus, Triodontophorus serratus, Triodontophorus brevicauda, Triodontophorus tenuicollis, Cyathostomum catinatum, Coronocyclus coronatus, Cylicocyclus nassatus, Cylicocyclus insigne, Cylicocyclus leptostomus, Cylicostephanus calicatus, Cylicostephanus goldi, Cylicostephanus longibursatus, Cylicostephanus minutus, and Poteriostomum imparidentatum) collected after necropsy were studied. The reproductive system was extracted from the female body; all eggs were removed, counted, and measured under a light microscope. Significant differences in number of eggs in female uteri of various strongylid species were observed (Kruskal-Wallis test, p0.001); the least numbers of eggs were registered in C. longibursatus (average = 49) and C. leptostomus (63) and the largest number in S. edentatus (5,918). Significant correlation between nematode body size and number of eggs was observed (p0.001). Correlation between size of eggs and body size was insignificant (Spearman R = 0.11, p = 0.70). Negative correlation was observed between number of eggs in female uteri and proportion of these species in strongylid community (Spearman R = -0.78, p0.001). Multiple linear regression of species proportion in the community on three predictors (number of eggs, body size, and egg size) was not significant (p0.05). However, the question on influence of fecundity on proportion of species in strongylid community needs further studies.

Foram identificados 1.521 nematóides recuperados das amostras correspondentes a 10% do conteúdo do cólon dorsal de seis equídeos naturalmente infectados provenientes do Estado de Pernambuco. Destes, 1.505 foram espécimes adultos da subfamília Cyathostomi-nae que estiveram distribuídos em 19 espécies, Cylicostephanus longibursatus, Cylicoste-phanus goldi, Cylicocyclus nassatus, Cyathostomum tetracanthum, Cylicocyclus insigne, Cylicostephanus calicatus, Corono-cyclus labratus, Poteriostomum imparidenta-tum, Cyathostomum pateratum, Cylicocyclus leptostomus, Cylicocyclus radiatus, Coronocy-clus coronatus, Cylicostephanus bidentatus, Cylicocyclus ultrajectinus, Cylicostephanus minutus, Poteriostomum ratzii, Cylicostepha-nus asymetricus, Parapoteriostomum euproctus, Cylicodontophorus bicoronatus em ordem decrescente de prevalência. As espécies que apresentaram maior prevalência foram C. longibursatus, C. goldi, C. nassatus, C. tetracanthum e C. insigne com 100%. Cinco espécimes pertenceram à subfamília Strongylinae, estes estiveram distribuídos em duas espécies, Triodontophorus tenuicollis e Craterostomum acudicaudatum. One thousand and five hundred and twenty one nematodes from dorsal colon of four equids naturaly infected from farms in Pernambuco State were identified. The total of 1.505 were identified as belongs to Cyathostominae subfamily distributed in 19 species: Cylicostephanus longibursatus, Cylicostephanus goldi, Cylicocyclus nassatus, Cyathostomum tetracanthum, Cylicocyclus insigne, Cylicostephanus calicatus, Coronocyclus labratus, Poteriostomum imparidentatum, Cyathostomum pateratum, Cylicocyclus leptostomus, Cylicocyclus radiatus, Coronocyclus coronatus, Cylicostephanus bidentatus, Cylicocyclus ultrajectinus, Cylicostephanus minutus, Poteriostomum ratzii, Cylicostephanus asymetricus, Parapoteriostomum euproctus, Cylicodontophorus bicoronatus in decrease order of prevalence. The most prevalent cyathostomes were C. longibursatus, C. goldi, C. nassatus, C. tetracanthum and C. insigne, all with of 100%. Five specimens were identified as belongs to Strongylinae subfamily distribued in two species: Triodontophorus tenuicollis and Craterostomum acudicaudatum

Parasitism is the most common and economically devastating disease of horses. The study was therefore conducted to determine the prevalence of endoparasites of horses in Jos metropolis. Blood and fecal samples were collected from 83 horses comprising of 48 males and 35 females, the eighty three horses sampled were the available at the time of sampling. Samples were processed and examined for gastrointestinal and haemoparasites infection. The prevalence was 74.7% for gastrointestinal parasites and 36.1% for haemoparasites infection. Only one horse (1.00%) was found to have gastrointestinal and haemoparasites infection. The prevalence of hemoparasites was found to be higher (43.9%) in females than in males (31.3%). Species of gastrointestinal parasites identified were, Trichonema spp 30 (31.70%), Triodontophorus tenuicollis 35 (55.60%) and Gastrodiscus aegyptiacus 10 (12.70%). Haemoparasites identified were Babesia equi 15 (50.00%), Babesia caballi 14 (46.7 %) and microfilariae 3 (10.0%). The prevalence of the parasites detected in the study were significantly different in sex and location (p>0.05).

In an earlier paper (Goodey, 1924), the writer has given an account of the morphology of the adults of Œsophagostomum dentatum, the development and structure of the free-living larvæ and the biology of the ensheathed infective stage. So far, however, the parasitic larval stages have not been described. In the present paper some of the gaps in our knowledge of the complete life-history of the worm represented by these stages are filled in, not as completely as could be desired owing to the absence from the material of specimens showing the 3rd and 4th ecdyses. The worms found, however, show that the 4th stage larva has a provisional buccal capsule essentially similar to that found in 4th stage larvæ of O. radiatum (Marotel, 1908) and O. columbianum (Veglia, 1924), and in this respect is in line with certain other 4th stage larvæ of the Strongyloidea such as Ancylosloma duodenale (Looss, 1897), and Triodontophorus tenuicollis (Ortlepp, 1925), in which provisional buccal capsules built on the same general plan have been observed.

1. During the free-living development the larvæ of Triodontophorus tenuicollis undergo two moults separating three larval stages, the last stage remaining ensheathed in the cuticule of the previous stage.2. The development takes about four days when the eggs are cultured in horse fæces and charcoal at 26° C.3. The infective or third stage larvæ are climbers, and also show a marked resistance to desiccation ; they can also withstand variations in temperature from – 8° C. to 60° C.4. They do not penetrate skin.5. Infection of the host is probably via the mouth during grazing.6. The fourth-stage larva is described. It is free in the lumen of the colon, possesses a well-marked larval buccal capsule and three stout and pointed œsophageal teeth. Sex differences are now present.7. The adult buccal capsule develops in the form of a vesicle round the base of the larval buccal capsule.8. The probable mode of its parasitic development is given.9. A fourth-stage larva, probably that of either T. brevicauda or T. serratus, is described.