ISSN: 2639-216X
Authors: Lingayat SS, Shafi TA*, Sakhare MP, Siddiqui MFMF, Chigure GM, Syed AM and Naikwade BS
The present work was conducted on captive wild animals to study the prevalence of gastrointestinal endoparasites during three seasons (winter, summer and monsoon). In total 126 (45 Carnivores, 24 Herbivores, 1 Omnivore, 21 Birds, and 33 Reptiles) feacal samples were examined out of which 54 (24 Carnivores, 18 Herbivores, 2 Omnivore, 10 Birds, and 7 Reptiles) were positive for one or more parasites with prevalence of 48.41%. The study revealed statistically significant difference in the prevalence of endoparasites in winter (61.90%) as compared to summer (38.09%) and monsoon (45.23%). The prevalence of GI endoparasites was 53.33 % in carnivores (winter 66.66%, summer 46.66%, monsoon 46.66%), 75% in herbivores (winter 87.5%, summer 62.5%, monsoon 75%), 66.66% in omnivores (winter 100%, summer 100%, monsoon 0%), 47.61% in birds (winter 71.42%, summer 28.57%, monsoon 42.85%) and 21.21% in reptiles (winter 27.27%, summer 9.09%, monsoon 27.27%). Common GI endoparasites in carnivores were Toxocara spp., Strongyle spp., Trichuris spp., Ascaris spp. and Eimeria spp., in herbivores Strongyle spp., Schistosoma spp. and Eimeria spp., and in birds Ascaris spp. and Eimeria spp. The data obtained in this work could be used for implementation of effective management strategies against gastrointestinal endoparasites of various captive wild animal species.
Keywords: Endoparasites; Captive Wild Animals; Epidemiology; Maharashtra
