Stomach parasites of donkeys in Morocco: habitat and interspecific interactions.

One hundred and four donkeys originating from several regions of Morocco were necropsied during 1 year. The parasites in their stomachs were counted and locations determined in the cardiac, fundic and pyloric portions. Synergistic or antagonistic interactions between parasites were assessed by a principal component analysis. Gasterophilus intestinalis was only found in the cardiac portion and G. nasalis was mostly found in the pyloric portion. Habronema were principally encountered in the pyloric portion, whereas Trichostrongylus axei was found in the fundic portion. The parasites were synergistically associated in their habitat interaction, except for T. axei on the fundic portion which was antagonistic to other parasites.