A study was conducted to determine the levels of infestation of gastro-intestinal parasites in 36 non-human primates (NHP) and 19 zoo keepers at the University of Ibadan Zoological Garden (UIZG) and Agodi Zoological Garden (AZG) in Ibadan, Nigeria. Freshly passed faecal samples were collected from NHP, zoo keepers, and from apparently healthy individuals (control). The faecal samples were processed using standard parasitological techniques. Twenty-two (61.1%) out of 36 NHP at UIZG and AZG were infested with gastro-intestinal parasites. Infestations at UIZG and AZG were 61.3% and 60%, respectively. All the red patas, mangabey and mandrill monkeys and 90.9% (10/11) of the green monkeys were infested. There were higher infestation rates in young NHP than in adults (P<0.05). The infestation rate in males and females were the same (61.1%). The most prevalent gastro-intestinal parasites were Trichuris trichiura (47.2%), Strongyle spp(13.9%), Entamoeba spp (13.9%) and Stronglyloides spp (5.6%). Six (27.3%) of the infested NHP have mixed infestations. Only one of the 19 zoo keepers screened was infested with Ascaris lumbricoides and two (15.4%) of the 13 members of control group (non-zoological garden workers) were infested with Ancylostoma duodenale. There was no evidence of cross transmission of gastro-intestinal helminths between the NHP and the zoo keepers.Keywords: Gastro-intestinal parasites, Helminths, Infestation, Primates, Prevalence, Zoos

Zoo and wildlife practitioners are constantly exposed to persistent dangers during physical restraint of wild animals. Chemical immobilization in reptiles is unpredictable due to their ectothermic nature. This study aims to determine a safe and effective anesthetic protocol for immobilization in chelonians and other reptiles. Varied doses of diazepam ketamine combinations were administered and evaluated in 16 healthy land tortoises (Testudo graeca). The tortoises were divided into four groups (4 per group) labeled DK-1 through DK-4. DK-1 had a combination of 44mg/kg of ketamine with 0.25mg/kg of diazepam. DK-2 had 22mg/kg of ketamine with 0.25mg/kg of diazepam. DK-3 had 44mg/kg of ketamine with 0.5mg/kg diazepam while DK-4 had 22mg/kg of ketamine with 0.5mg/kg of diazepam. Anesthetic effects were monitored to determine the duration required for partial extension of the head and limbs, full extension of limbs, and complete recovery from anesthesia. These visual inspection of partial recovery and full extension were adapted as surface and deep anaesthesia respectively in describing the depth of anaesthesia. All the time intervals were recorded in minutes, and summarized as mean and standard deviation. ANOVA was used to test for significance across the groups. Full extension of head and limbs was achieved within mean periods of 10, 15.5 and 13 minutes in DK-1, DK-3 and DK-4 respectively. Tortoises in DK-2, which were only sedated, demonstrated only surface depth of anaesthesia. Complete recovery occurred in mean periods of 128, 25, 158 (p < 0.05) and 132 minutes for groups DK-1, DK-2, DK-3, and DK-4 respectively. Diazepam-Ketamine anaesthetic cocktail provides a safe protocol for chemical restraint in tortoises. A higher dose of diazepam produced a longer duration of complete recovery.

This study was conducted to evaluate haematological and biochemical parameters of haemogregarine-infected (h-infected) and non-infected African hinge-back tortoises in Ibadan, Nigeria. Blood samples were collected from 120 tortoises, of which 70 were Kinixys belliana and 50 were K. homeana. Stained thin smears were examined for haemogregarines using light microscope. Haematological and biochemical analyses were carried out following standard procedures. A total of 91(75.83 %) tortoises were positive for haemogregarines. Significantly (P<0.05) lower values of haematocrit (23.92 %), haemoglobin (5.21g/dl) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) (21.78 %) were recorded for h-infected tortoises with haematocrit (33.29 %), haemoglobin (8.31g/dl) and MCHC (24.96 %). Higher values of white blood cells (WBC) (7.26 x 109/L) and lymphocytes (2.71x109/L), were observed in h-infected than non-infected with WBC (5.58 x 109/L) and lymphocytes (2.15x109/L). Higher values of haematocrit and haemaglobin were recorded for K. Homeana.  Males had higher haematocrit (27.27 %) and WBC (7.09 x 109/L) than females with haematocrit (24.35 %) and WBC (6.93 x 109/L). Females had higher MCHC, haemoglobin and calcium values than males.The lower values of haematocrit, haemoglobin and MCHC obtained for h-infected tortoises were expected since haemogregarines are usually found intra-erythrocytic in their host thereby destroying affected erythrocytes and causing a decrease in haematocrit value. Higher WBC counts in h-infected tortoises is typical in diseased conditions. The higher level of calcium in female tortoises is due to their reproductive cycle especially vitellogenesis and egg formation. Hypo-proteinaemia recorded in h- infected tortoises was attributed to parasitism. It is concluded that majority of haematological and biochemical analytes showed considerable variations with level of infection status, species and gender.