Strongyle egg counts in Standardbred trotters: are they associated with race performance?

Reasons for performing study: Strongyle worm burdens are assumed to subclinically affect equine performance. This assumption appears to be particularly pronounced in the equine racing industry.

Hypothesis: Race results of Standardbred trotters are negatively affected by high strongyle faecal egg count levels.

Methods: Faecal samples were obtained from 213 racing Standardbred trotters, aged ≥ 2 years, and stabled at training facilities of 21 professional trainers with license at racecourses in Denmark. Strongyle egg counts were generated using a McMaster technique. Race results were recorded as the finishing position of the horse (position 1-3 vs. finishing lower) and winning purse. The effect of strongyle egg counts on performance was assessed using regression analyses.

Results: Strongyle egg counts ranged from 0-3500 with a mean of 319 and a median of 150 eggs/g. Finishing in positions 1-3 was significantly associated with higher egg counts.

Conclusions: Race performance of the population of professionally trained Danish Standardbred trotters was not negatively affected by higher strongyle faecal egg count levels.

Potential relevance: The traditional frequent anthelmintic treatments of racehorses may be inordinate.