The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites in foals from large stud farms during the first year of their life. Between the years 2005 and 2008, a total of 516 foals (211 Pure Blood Arabian [OO] and 305 Thoroughbred [XX]) from big herd farms were examined in order to determine the level of infection with intestinal parasites. Using the McMaster method with centrifugation foals in age groups: 1-3, 4-6, 7-9 and 10-12-months-old were checked. To differentiate the strongyles (Strongylidae) larvae, the fecal cultures were done according to Henriksen and Korsholme. On the basis on the results the following parasites were found during the fecal examination: protozoan Eimeria leuckarti and nematodes: Strongyloides westerii, Parascaris equorum and Strongylidae. Only the presence of cyathostomins (Cyathostominae) were demonstrated. The infection with Eimeria leuckarti and Strongyloides westerii was greater among XX foals, whereas OO foals were more infected with Parascaris equorum and Cyathostominae. Among all infected horses, the mono-infections were dominant (69.9%). The type as well as the level of infection with the observed parasites depended on the age of the animal. The infection with Eimeria leuckarti and Strongyloides westerii was the highest among the youngest foals (up to 3rd month). However, in the case of protozoan, the level of infection decreased with age and the infection with whipworm was low in the entire period of research. Despite regular deworming, a high prevalence of infection with Parascaris equorum and Cyathostominae was observed and it grew with the animals’ age, reaching 26.3% and 43.9% among 10-12-month-old foals, respectively.
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