Movement of stomach bots [gasterophilus intestinalis and gasterophilus pecorum larvae] in the oral cavity of donkeys [equus asinus]

ABSTRACT

Examinations were carried out on oral cavities of 56 and 15 donkeys naturally infested with Gasterophilus intestinalis and G. pecorum, respectively. Developing immature larvae of these two species showed a specific pattern of movement within the oral cavity of donkeys. First instars of G. intestinalis burrowed in the dorsal mucosa of the tongue and invaded the interdental spaces of the upper arcade teeth. Second instar larvae also developed there and in the pharynx. First instars of G. pecorum burrowed in the mucous membrane of the hard palate, cheeks and tongue. They dispersed into the soft palate and root of the tongue, where 2nd instars developed. Second instars moved to the pharynx, where they remained until the moult to 3rd instar. Like G. intestinalis, the dispersing 1st instar produced perpendicular air holes for breathing