Epidemiological studies on equine cestodes in central Spain: Infection pattern and population dynamics

A. magna showed a different pattern. Infection was detected throughout the whole study period. Seasonal prevalence was higher in autumn (25.5%) than in winter (14.9%), spring (12.1%) and summer (10.5%), but the differences were not statistically significant. Non-gravid A. magna tapeworms could be detected almost throughout the year but percentages were significantly higher (p < 0.01) in autumn (50.2%), indicating recent ingestion, than in the other seasons (30% in summer, 12.8% in winter and 0% in spring). However, data from spring were not enough to discard the season as a risk period for A. magna infection.