Identification of cyathostomes in equines in Iran

Attempts were made to present a practical key for identification of small strongyles, the identification ofwhich seems to be a difficult task to do. 4000 nematodes collected from the large intestine of horses anddonkeys were examined. 18 species of small strongyles of horse and 15 of donkey were found. From 6species of large strongyles found in both animals, we only dealt with 3 of Triodontophorus sp. In horses, 3species of Coronocyclus (C. coronatus, C. labiatus and C. labratus), 4 species of Cyathostomum (C.alveatum, C. catinatum, C. pateratum and C. tetracanthum), 5 species of Cylicocyclus (C. auriculatus, C.insigne, C. nassatus, C. radiatus and C. elongatus), 1 species of Cylicodontophorus (C. bicoronatus), 4species of Cylicostephanus (C. calicatus, C. goldi, C. longibursatus and C. minutus), 1 species ofGyalocephalus (G. capitatus), and 3 species of Triodontophorus (T. brevicauda, T. serratus and T.tenuicollis) were found. From the above-mentioned species, C. minutus, C. calicatus and G. capitatus wereabsent in specimens examined from donkeys.