title: Onchocerca spp: frequency in Thoroughbreds at necropsy in Kentucky.
abstract: Examination of the ligamentum nuchae for Onchocerca spp was completed in 523 Thoroughbreds (1 to 29 years old) at necropsy in Kentucky during a 13-month period (1984 to 1985). Onchocerca spp were found in 306 (59%) of the horses. Frequencies of this parasite were 3%, 17%, 40%, 43%, and 42% in 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-year-old horses, respectively. For 6- to 29-year-old horses, frequency varied from 71% to 100%, except for 26-year-old horses (50%); 87% of the 304 horses examined in the 6- to 29-year-old age groups was infected. The suspensory ligaments and flexor tendons from fetlocks (thoracic limb only) of 100 Thoroughbreds (3 to 24 years old) were examined at necropsy during a 4-month period (1984) for Onchocerca spp. Infected horses were not found.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D006736:Horses / Q000469:parasitology*; D007629:Kentucky; D008022:Ligaments / Q000469:parasitology*; D009854:Onchocerca / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009855:Onchocerciasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*