Gastrointestinal parasites of some captive birds in Alipore zoological garden, India

Abstract

The present study was carried out to investigate the gastro intestinal parasitic fauna of some captive birds at Alipore Zoological Garden, Kolkata, West Bengal, India. Out of total 392 faecal samples collected, 176 (44.89% prevalence) were found to be positive for helminthic and protozoan parasites, as single or mixed infections. The present study documented 9 different gastrointestinal parasites viz, Capillaria sp. (11.73%); Ascaridia sp. (32.90%); Heterakis sp. (9.69%); Hymenolepis sp. (1.02%); Eimeria columbae (1.27%); E. mayurai (1.78%); E. labbeana (3.06%); E. pavonis (1.78%); Isospora mayuri (1.02%), from different captive birds of this zoological garden. Among helminth infections, 119 (30.35%) faecal samples were found to have mono infection with one species of helminths (i.e either Cestodes or nematodes) and 57 (14.54%) samples show multiple infection. The enteric protozoan infections were lesser in magnitude (2.80%) when compared to helminth infections.