EN
A study was conducted to determine the prevalence and intensity of tapeworm, roundworm and botfly larvae infection in horses from October 2005 to March 2006 on material taken from slaughterhouses. 262 horses: foals (n = 147) and adult horses of different ages (n = 115) originating from small farms in southern Poland were examined. Tapeworm Anoplocephala perfoliata occurred in 3.05% of the horses (average intensity - 13 specimens per host) as well in adult horses (mares, geldings, stallions) (2.6%) and in foals (3.4%). Roundworm Parascaris equorum was found in 13.4% horses, with a mean intensity - 72 specimens per host. Roundworm occurred mainly in foals - 21.1% and in 4 adult horses (3.5%) including 3 mares (5.1%) and 1 stallion (4.3%). Larvae of Gasterophilus intestinalis botflies were found in 3.4% horses, with a mean intensity of infection - 56 specimens per host. Botfly larvae occurred in 3 adult horses (mares) (2.6%) and in 6 foals (4%), with a similar intensity of infection, respectively: 65 and 51. The study revealed that management systems considerably affect these parasite infections. Horses examined in this study came from small farms, where they had a limited access to pasture or were kept in a housed system. Thus, there was a smaller risk of Anoplocephalidosis and Gasterophilosis in particular, which is associated with large herd breeding and the pasture system. On the other hand, the housed system was advantageous to roundworm infections because of the conditions in the stable which generally stimulate development of these nematode eggs up to the infective stage.