Parasitic infections in wild herbivores in the Mahendra Choudhury Zoological Park, Chhatbir, Punjab

Abstract

The present investigation was undertaken to study the parasitic infections in herbivores kept at Mahendra Choudhury Zoological Park, Chhatbir in Punjab, India. The occurrence and intensity of gastrointestinal parasitic load in 169 animals of 16 different herbivore species belonging to the families Cervidae, Bovidae, Hippopotamidae, Elephantidae, Rhinocerotidae and Equidae was determined by standard qualitative and quantitative parasitological techniques. The overall occurrence of gastrointestinal parasites based on 389 samples examined for helmithic eggs/oocysts of protozoa was found to be 25.71 per cent. The various parasitic eggs/oocyst detected were of strongyles, amphistomes, Trichuris spp. and Eimeria spp. The most commonly detected parasitic infection (89%) was of strongyles followed by Trichuris spp., Eimeria spp. and amphisotomes. Mixed infection was noticed in majority of the herbivores. The intensity of eggs of different parasites in various species of animals ranged from 50-4200 eggs per gram (epg). It was found that treatment of animals with appropriate drugs based on the species of parasites present in these animals was reported to be 100 per cent effective in majority of cases based on reduction in faecal egg count which reached zero by day three post treatment while in some groups it was reached by day five post treatment. No re-occurrence of parasitic infection was reported till day 55 post treatment.

Prevalence of gastro-intestinal parasites in captive wild animals of Nandan Van Zoo, Raipur, Chhattisgarh

“…was recorded in all herbivores of the zoo. The present findings differ from the report of Singh [24] who recorded infection as the most commonly detected parasitic infection (89%) in wild herbivores in the Mahendra Choudhury zoological park, Chhatbir, Punjab. The prevalence of parasitic infection in rhesus macaques under primate category was 60%.…”

Study on Gastrointestinal Parasitism of Wild Animals in Captivity at the Zoological Garden of Haramaya University, Ethiopia

“…A total of 9 parasite taxa were identified both in December and in April, of which 6 (66.67%) and 3 (33.33%) were helminthes and protozoa respectively ( (Table 3). In agreement with this study, many previous works reported mixed infections in wild animals in captivity [7]. Otegbade and Morenikeji [26] reported that that mixed infections may consists of two or more parasites.…”

“…In captivity, animals appear to be less resistant to parasitic infections than under their natural habitats [4]. The changes in environment and living conditions from the natural habitat to captivity alter the life styles of animals, reduce disease resistance ability and increase their susceptibility to parasitic infections [5] [6] [7]. Vulnerability of captive wild animals to parasitic infections depends on factors, like feeding, keeping conditions, animal management and environmental conditions, such as temperature and humidity.…”

Eimeria sp. Infection in Black Bucks (Antilope cervicapra) of Tal Chhapar Sanctuary of Rajasthan

“…Quantification of the infection by means of oocyst per gram revealed mild to severe infection of Eimeria sp. ranging from 300-2300 with an average of704.35 ± 107.72 which is in close approximation with the findings of Singh et al, (2006).…”