Copromicroscopic study of gastrointestinal parasites in captive mammals at Central Zoo, Lalitpur, Nepal
Abstract Background Zoological gardens (Zoo) provide abode to various threatened animals or trafficked animals seized by the authorities, and injured and orphaned animals. Captive animals are more susceptible to infection as they are under significant stress due to diet and space which further dwind...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Veterinary Medicine and Science |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/vms3.1039 |
| _version_ | 1797946567248838656 |
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| author | Pitambar Dhakal Hari Prasad Sharma Rachana Shah Parbat Jung Thapa Chiranjibi Prasad Pokheral |
| author_facet | Pitambar Dhakal Hari Prasad Sharma Rachana Shah Parbat Jung Thapa Chiranjibi Prasad Pokheral |
| author_sort | Pitambar Dhakal |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Zoological gardens (Zoo) provide abode to various threatened animals or trafficked animals seized by the authorities, and injured and orphaned animals. Captive animals are more susceptible to infection as they are under significant stress due to diet and space which further dwindle their resistance to parasitic infections. Objectives This study was conducted to determine the prevalence and burden of gastrointestinal parasites in captive mammals housed at Central Zoo. Methods Fresh faecal samples from three orders of mammals including carnivora (n = 24), rodentia (n = 28) and artiodactyla (n = 35) were examined by direct smear, faecal floatation and sedimentation techniques, and the McMaster technique was applied to quantify parasite eggs per gram (EPG)/oocysts per gram (OPG) of a faecal sample. Results One or more parasite taxa were detected in 19.54% of the examined samples and five types of GIPs including one protozoon (Eimeria spp.) and four helminths (Strongyloides spp., Haemonchus spp. and Trichostrongylus spp. and hookworm) were recorded. The protozoan prevalence (6.89 %) was lower than helminths (12.64%). The Eimeria spp. was the most prevalent parasite (6.89%) with the highest OPG (427.77 ± 25.45SD) in spotted deer (Axis axis), and the highest prevalence was noticed among artiodactyla (34.28%) followed by carnivora (12.5%) and rodentia (7.14%). Artiodactyla had both single infection (25.71%) and double (8.57%) infection. The percentage of single infection (16.09%) was found to be higher than double infection (3.44%) among the captive mammals. The wild boar (Sus scrofa) had the highest EPG of 383.33 ± 76.37SD (Strongyloides spp.), while the spotted deer had the lowest EPG of 216.66 ± 76.37SD (hookworm). Conclusions Despite careful management practices, the parasitic infection may be attributed to the narrow enclosure, group housing and environmental contamination. The present finding provides baseline information on the parasitic infection in captive mammals, and can be used by zoo managers for the better life of captive animals. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T21:13:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-58757f5193604c10a08a0094fb29717e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2053-1095 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T21:13:04Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Veterinary Medicine and Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-58757f5193604c10a08a0094fb29717e2023-01-20T17:53:08ZengWileyVeterinary Medicine and Science2053-10952023-01-019145746410.1002/vms3.1039Copromicroscopic study of gastrointestinal parasites in captive mammals at Central Zoo, Lalitpur, NepalPitambar Dhakal0Hari Prasad Sharma1Rachana Shah2Parbat Jung Thapa3Chiranjibi Prasad Pokheral4Central Department of Zoology Institute of Science and Technology Tribhuvan University Kirtipur NepalCentral Department of Zoology Institute of Science and Technology Tribhuvan University Kirtipur NepalNational Trust for Nature Conservation‐Central Zoo Lalitpur NepalNational Trust for Nature Conservation‐Central Zoo Lalitpur NepalNational Trust for Nature Conservation‐Central Zoo Lalitpur NepalAbstract Background Zoological gardens (Zoo) provide abode to various threatened animals or trafficked animals seized by the authorities, and injured and orphaned animals. Captive animals are more susceptible to infection as they are under significant stress due to diet and space which further dwindle their resistance to parasitic infections. Objectives This study was conducted to determine the prevalence and burden of gastrointestinal parasites in captive mammals housed at Central Zoo. Methods Fresh faecal samples from three orders of mammals including carnivora (n = 24), rodentia (n = 28) and artiodactyla (n = 35) were examined by direct smear, faecal floatation and sedimentation techniques, and the McMaster technique was applied to quantify parasite eggs per gram (EPG)/oocysts per gram (OPG) of a faecal sample. Results One or more parasite taxa were detected in 19.54% of the examined samples and five types of GIPs including one protozoon (Eimeria spp.) and four helminths (Strongyloides spp., Haemonchus spp. and Trichostrongylus spp. and hookworm) were recorded. The protozoan prevalence (6.89 %) was lower than helminths (12.64%). The Eimeria spp. was the most prevalent parasite (6.89%) with the highest OPG (427.77 ± 25.45SD) in spotted deer (Axis axis), and the highest prevalence was noticed among artiodactyla (34.28%) followed by carnivora (12.5%) and rodentia (7.14%). Artiodactyla had both single infection (25.71%) and double (8.57%) infection. The percentage of single infection (16.09%) was found to be higher than double infection (3.44%) among the captive mammals. The wild boar (Sus scrofa) had the highest EPG of 383.33 ± 76.37SD (Strongyloides spp.), while the spotted deer had the lowest EPG of 216.66 ± 76.37SD (hookworm). Conclusions Despite careful management practices, the parasitic infection may be attributed to the narrow enclosure, group housing and environmental contamination. The present finding provides baseline information on the parasitic infection in captive mammals, and can be used by zoo managers for the better life of captive animals.https://doi.org/10.1002/vms3.1039captive mammalsCentral Zoocopromicroscopygastrointestinal parasites |
| spellingShingle | Pitambar Dhakal Hari Prasad Sharma Rachana Shah Parbat Jung Thapa Chiranjibi Prasad Pokheral Copromicroscopic study of gastrointestinal parasites in captive mammals at Central Zoo, Lalitpur, Nepal Veterinary Medicine and Science captive mammals Central Zoo copromicroscopy gastrointestinal parasites |
| title | Copromicroscopic study of gastrointestinal parasites in captive mammals at Central Zoo, Lalitpur, Nepal |
| title_full | Copromicroscopic study of gastrointestinal parasites in captive mammals at Central Zoo, Lalitpur, Nepal |
| title_fullStr | Copromicroscopic study of gastrointestinal parasites in captive mammals at Central Zoo, Lalitpur, Nepal |
| title_full_unstemmed | Copromicroscopic study of gastrointestinal parasites in captive mammals at Central Zoo, Lalitpur, Nepal |
| title_short | Copromicroscopic study of gastrointestinal parasites in captive mammals at Central Zoo, Lalitpur, Nepal |
| title_sort | copromicroscopic study of gastrointestinal parasites in captive mammals at central zoo lalitpur nepal |
| topic | captive mammals Central Zoo copromicroscopy gastrointestinal parasites |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/vms3.1039 |
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