Investigation on Parasites and some Causes of Mortality in Captive Punjab urial (Ovis vignei punjabiensis), Pakistan

Abstract

Background: The present study was conducted in Jul 2019 and Jan 2020 in two wildlife parks of the Nowshera district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, where the endangered Punjab urial (Ovis vignei punjabiensis) is successfully bred in captivity. We determined diversity of internal and external parasites that take advantage of the situation of congestion, resulting in massive mortalities of wild animals in captivity.
 Methods: Internal parasites of living urial were determined by direct wet smear and flotation methods, while dead urial was necropsied for any pertaining observation.
 Results: All examined fecal samples were found infected with gastrointestinal parasites, which had significant difference in the total abundance in winter and summer. S. papillosus and H.contortus, and a single protozoan, Eimeria spp. were the dominant parasites in fecal samples. Ticks collected from urial enclosures and dead animals were of single species H. anatolicum. Theileria spp. was observed in blood, while hydatid cysts were found in lungs and liver of necropsied urial. 
 Conclusion: The study indicates that internal parasites such as Haemonchus contortus and Strongyloides papillosus, while external parasites as Hyalomma anatolicum ticks played major role in the population decline. Strict veterinary control of infectious diseases, provision of hygienic and supplementary diet, and proper maintenance of urial population are necessary measures for the control of mortalities.

Growth Stages and Inter-Species Gut Microbiota Composition and Function in Captive Red Deer (Cervus elaphus alxaicus) and Blue Sheep (Pseudois nayaur)

“…In China, research on the gut microbiota of blue sheep and red deer at different growth stages in captivity is scarce. With the rapid development of society, a growing number of animals has been facing extinction threat; thus, captivity has been increasingly used to ensure protection and reintroduction, especially for endangered animals [28][29][30]. Ungulates are mostly reared in semi-enclosed outdoor facilities, which limits their exposure to microbes.…”

“…However, captive breeding ensures that animals are provided with good living conditions for very stable growth and development. Nevertheless, captive animals might still be affected by diseases [29,31] and they may face more pressure due to limited space [32]. Monitoring the structure and function of the gut microbiota of captive animals can help elucidate whether animals have adapted to their artificial environment, which is one of the key issues in wildlife conservation [33].…”