Coprological survey of gastrointestinal parasitism in captive wildlife of Kanpur Zoological Park, India

Abstract

Parasites cause several problems for wild animals in captivity and therefore parasitic diseases are an important concern in these animals. This study aimed to find out the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in captive wild animals of the Kanpur Zoological Park. The research work was conducted from September, 2016 to April, 2017. A total of 234 faecal samples were randomly collected from Zoo animals (124 samples of herbivores, 61 samples of carnivores, 45 samples of non-human primates and 4 samples of omnivores). The overall prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection in the present study was found to be 32.05% with 20.94% samples positive with helminths, 8.11% samples positive with protozoans and 2.99% samples positive with mixed Infection. A total of eight species of gastrointestinal parasites in herbivores were observed namely, amphistome (2.41%), Fasciola sp. (1.61%), Trichuris sp. (3.22%), Strongyle, Strongyloides sp., Oesophagostomum sp., Trichostrongylus sp. (2.41%) and Eimeria sp. (4.83%). Gastrointestinal parasites in carnivores were observed namely, Ancylostoma sp. (8.19%), Toxocara cati (8.19%), Strongyloides sp. (6.55%), Trichuris sp. (4.91%), Toxocara canis (3.27%), Toxascaris leonina (1.63%), Spirometra sp. (1.63%) and Isospora sp. (6.55%). Strongyloides sp. (13.33%) and Eimeria sp. (20%) were observed in non-human primates. Screening of captive wild animals at regular intervals is needed to assess the gastrointestinal parasites to alert the zoo authorities to take up proper preventive measures.