Noninvasive assessment of gastrointestinal parasites infection in freeranging wild herbivores and adjoining livestock of Panna Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh, India

Abstract

Aim:This study was conducted to know the epidemiology of gastrointestinal parasites of free-ranging wild herbivores and adjoining livestock of Panna Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh, India.Materials and Methods:A total of 374 fecal samples from wild herbivores (Chital Axis axis - 123, Sambar Rusa unicolor - 94, Nilgai Boselaphus tragocamelus - 86, and Chinkara Gazella bennettii - 71) and 284 fecal samples of domestic herbivores (cattle - 118, buffalo - 78, and goat - 88) were collected from common grazing land and adjoining area of tiger reserve. Detailed coprological examination for the presence of parasitic eggs/oocysts by direct smear examination, standard sedimentation, and floatation techniques was performed.Results:Fecal samples (n=374) of four different species of wild herbivores were screened. Out of which, 55.61% (n=208) were positive for parasitic infection. Among them, 13.10% (n=49) were positive for mixed parasitic infection of two or more parasite and 42.5% (n=159) were found positive for single parasitic infection. A total of 284 fecal samples of domestic animals were screened from adjoining areas of the tiger reserve. Out of which, 66.54% (n=189) were positive for parasitic infections, out of which 19.71% (n=56) were positive for mixed infection of two or more parasites, and 46.83% (n=133) were found positive for single parasitic infection.Conclusion:Wild herbivores at Panna Tiger Reserve were exposed to parasites including some that are known to be pathogenic; majority of wild animals had mixed infection of Eimeria spp., Trichuris spp., Moniezia spp., Amphistome, Strongyloides spp., Balantidium spp., and Fasciola spp.

Helminths of Exotic Even-Toed Ungulates (Artiodactyla) in the Askania-Nova Biosphere Reserve, Ukraine

“…Restricted data on the species diversity of the parasites of exotic ungulates (artiodactyls) in nature are available in literature. Most of the studies were carried out by coprological methods examining the animals from zoos and nature reserves where dissection of animals for parasitological studies was impossible (Epe et al, 2001;Farooq et al, 2012;Vadlejch et al, 2015;Mir et al, 2016;Sengar et al, 2017). Th erefore, we were not able to collect enough data to perform reliable comparative analysis of the parasite diversity of ungulates kept in the Askania-Nova Reserve and under natural conditions.…”

Implementation of Biological Control to the Integrated Control of Strongyle Infection among Wild Captive Equids in a Zoological Park

“…Prior investigations suggested that parasites involving an intermediate host, as trematodes or cestodes, are more difficult to develop in zoos [ 4 ]; then those having a direct life-cycle are highly prevalent in captivity, especially parasites capable of surviving for long periods in the environment as strongyles or ascarids [ 5 – 7 ]. Clinical signs attributable to parasites are seldom observed in captive animals, which might point that subclinical infections develop in most of cases [ 8 ].…”

Concurrent helminthosis engendered gastroenteritis in a leopard Panthera pardus

“…Most of the wild animals are endangered and already at the verge of extinction due to habitat destruction (forest fire), loss of genetic diversity, improper feeding and hunting (Sengar et al ., 2017). The pace of this mechanism is further exacerbated by many diseases caused by a variety of pathogenic agents including parasites.…”