Prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in free ranging Gaur (Bos gaurus gaurus) population of Madhya Pradesh

Abstract

During the health monitoring and diseases diagnosis of free ranging wild animals, 227 faecal samples of free ranging gaurs were collected and analysed by following the qualitative and quantitative coprodiagnostic techniques. Overall prevalence of gastrointestinal parasitism in gaurs was revealed (73.5%) in different tiger reserves. Highest occurrence of Nematodes (73.5%), moderate Coccidia (30.4%) and Trematodes (20.7%) and lowest Cestodes (9.2%) was recorded. Seasonal prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites was recorded low in May June (8-36%) while highest peak of the same infections were recorded from September-October (48-72%). The park wise prevalence of parasitic infections was highest in Bandhavgarh (80%), followed by Pench (78.9%), Satpura (72.7%) and lowest (61.8%) in Kanha tiger reserve. The predominant parasites were found as Trichostrongylus spp. (54.1%) followed by Eimeria spp. (30.4%), Amphistomes spp. (14.9%), Strongyloides (9.6%), Moniezia spp. (9.2%), Toxocara spp. (5.9%), Fasciola spp. (5.7%), Trichuris spp. (3.9%) and Balantidium spp. (2.6%) in different tiger reserves of Madhya Pradesh.