Epidemiology and chemotherapy of parasitic infections in wild omnivores in the Mahendra Choudhury Zoological Park, Chhat Bir, Punjab
P. Singh1, L.D. Singla 2, M.P. Gupta 3, S. Sharma 1 & D.R. Sharma 1
1,2,3College of Veterinary
Science, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana,
India
Email: 2 (corresponding author)
ldsingla@rediffmail.com;
Date
of online publication 26 January 2009
ISSN 0974-7907
(online) | 0974-7893 (print)
Editor: Jacob V. Cheeran
Manuscript
details:
Manuscript
# o1767a; Received 27 April 2007; Final revised received 18 November 2007;
Finally accepted 21 February 2008
Citation: Singh, P., L.D. Singla, M.P. Gupta, S.
Sharma & D.R. Sharma (2009). Epidemiology and chemotherapy of parasitic
infections in wild omnivores in the Mahendra Choudhury Zoological Park, Chhat
Bir, Punjab. Journal of Threatened Taxa 1(1): 62-64.
Copyright: © Singh, P., L.D. Singla, M.P. Gupta, S.
Sharma & D.R. Sharma 2009. Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported
License. JoTT allows unrestricted use of this article in any medium for
non-profit purposes, reproduction and distribution by providing adequate credit
to the authors and the source of publication.
Acknowledgements:Authors are thankful to Director, M.C. Zoological Park, Chhatbir, Punjab for
permission to carry out the work at the Zoo and Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and
Animal Sciences University for facilities provided.
For Images & Tables – click here
The presence of as many as 150 recognized zoonotic diseases of
infectious origin in wild animals maintained under a single facility in a zoo
always poses a risk for domestic animals as well as man in its periphery and
vice-versa (Acha & Szyfres 1987). Parasitic diseases of wildlife are still in infancy in India and data
are still on the base line (Islam 2006). These diseases constitute one of the major problems in management
causing mortality and morbidity in wild animals in captivity (Rao &
Acharjyo 1984). Little work has been
done to understand the epidemiology of different parasitic diseases in wild
animals kept in Indian zoos (Goswami et al. 1994; Goswami & Chakraborty
1996; Chhangani et al. 2001; Kumar et al. 2005; Singh et al. 2006). Parasites can affect host survival and reproduction directly through
pathological effects (blood loss, tissue damage, spontaneous abortion,
congenital malformations and death) and indirectly by reducing host condition. Through these proximate mechanisms, parasites
can potentially regulate host populations (Gregory & Hudson 2000; Hochachka
& Dhondt 2000).
Keeping in view the importance of parasitic infections in wild omnivores
and their potential for transmission to domestic animals and man, this study
was conducted to investigate the occurrence of various gastrointestinal
parasitic infestations in various species of omnivores alongwith their
chemotherapeutic control at the Mahendra Choudhury Zoological Park, Chhat Bir
in Punjab (29049’-30047’N & 75058’-76054’E) India.
Three-hundred-and-seventeen fresh faecal samples of 13 different
omnivore species belonging to Primates, Ursidae, Suidae and Viverridae were collected
over a period of six months to know the occurrence and intensity of
gastrointestinal parasitism. The samples
from the enclosures in which animals were housed in groups were pooled
together, and individual faecal samples were taken from animals kept
singly. Regular Copro-parasitoscopic
analysis (CPS) was done using standard qualitative (sedimentation and
floatation) and quantitative tests (Mc Master counting technique) (Soulsby
1982). An arbitrary designation was
assigned to denote the intensity of infection as done by Nashiruddullah &
Chakraborty (2001). One part of the
faecal sample was preserved in 10% formalin for proper analysis,
identification, micrometric analysis and microphotography. The identification of eggs was based on the
morphology and the micrometric studies (Bowman 1999).
To see the chemotherapeutic response of appropriate drugs, animals were
divided into three species groups, sex, age, type of enclosure and the type of
parasitic infection (single or mixed) found in these animals (Table 2). The drug was given at a slightly high dosage
so as to cover up the wastage of drug when given mixed in feed. The EPG was calculated on day 0, i.e., before
treatment and days 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 15, 30 and 55 post treatment (DPT) to record
the reduction or re-occurrence of parasitic infection. The percent reduction in the faecal egg count
after treatment was calculated to know the efficacy of the drug used.
Out of 317 samples taken from 13 different omnivore species, 92 were
found to be positive for helminthic eggs giving a prevalence of 29.02%. Species-wise prevalence is given in Table 1
and Image 1. The parasite load was more
in the animals kept in large groups suggesting transmission of infection from
one animal to another whereas animals kept in isolation or small groups were
relatively free or had less infection.
The various parasitic eggs detected in omnivores were of Trichuris spp,
Hymenolepis diminuta, Strongyloides spp, Ascaris suum, Ascaris spp
which were similar to the findings of Gorman et al. (1986), and
Varadharajan & Pythal (1999). The
most common parasitic infection (86.96%) seen in omnivores specially the
primates was of Trichuris spp. Present findings are comparable with those of Munene et al. (1998), and
Yang & Gong (1998). Mixed infection
of Trichuris spp. and H. diminuta (60%) was recorded in
Assamese Macaques Macaca assamensis.
Intensity of
parasitic infections
Highest intensity of infection was in Assamese Macaques with mean EPGs
ranging between 100-7500 for various parasites, viz., Trichuris spp.,
H. diminuta and Strongyloides spp. followed by Rhesus
Macaques Macaca mulatta for Trichuris spp., Wild Boar Sus
scrofa for A. suum, Capped Langur Trachypithecus pileatus forTrichuris spp., Common Langur Semnopithecus sp. for Trichuris spp.,
and Sloth Bear Melursus ursinus for Ascaris spp. (Table 1). The intensity of infection among primates was
more in Assamese Macaques than other primates as they were kept overcrowded in
cages. These animals were undergoing
treatment for tuberculosis, so the parasitic infection in these animals was concurrent
to tuberculosis which made them more prone to infection than other
primates. The humidity in the cages of
the Assamese Macaques was comparatively higher as there was less access to
direct sunlight.
Based on morphology and the micrometric reading (Soulsby 1982) the eggs
of Trichuris spp. detected in Assamese Macaques, Rhesus Macaques, Capped Langur and Common Langur were
found comparable to those of Trichuris trichuria. Eggs of H. diminuta were also detected
in Assamese Macaques as per morphology and micrometric study (Bowman
1999). Similarly Ascaris suumeggs were identified in Wild Boars.
Therapeutic
Studies
The animals of group I (Assamese Macaques 31(11 adult females + 9 young
ones +11 adult males)) having mixed parasitic infection with Trichuris spp.
and H. diminuta were housed together in an enclosure. The animals were treated with Prazital® tablets (each tab having praziquantal-50mg, pyrantal pamoate-144mg and
fenbendazole 150mg; Ranbaxy India Ltd.) @ 1.5 tablets/animal x 3days mixed in
feed. The results revealed that
reduction in faecal egg count for Trichuris spp. and H. diminutawas 72.68% and 93.47% on day one post treatment and 99.25% and 100.00% on day 5
post treatment, respectively (Table 2). There was no re-occurrence of infection till 55 DPT, so the drug was
found to be highly efficacious in limiting these parasitic infections in
Assamese Macaques.
The animals of group II (Rhesus Macaques) had single Trichuris spp.
infection. This group was further
subdivided into 2 subgroups. Subgroup 1
constituted of 6 adult males and Subgroup 2 of 3 females and 4 young ones. Both subgroups were treated with pyrantal
pamoate (Tab Nemocid® 250mg each; IPCA) @15mg.kg-1 body weight mixed in feed as a single dose treatment. The reduction in faecal egg count was 95% and
92.85% for subgroup 1 and subgroup 2 on day two post treatment and was
100% and 94.29% on day 5 post treatment,
respectively. In subgroup 2, the reduction
in faecal egg count was 100% by 15DPT and it was seen that there was no
recurence of infection till 55DPT (Table 2).
The animals in group III (two Wild Boars) had a single A. suuminfection. The animals were treated with
pyrantal pamoate (Tab Nemocid 250mg each; ICPA) @ 15mg.kg-1 body weight in feed. The
reduction in faecal egg count was 66.04% by day one post treatment, 77.36% by
2DPT and 100% by 3DPT (Table 2). There
was no recurence of infection till 30DPT. It was concluded that pyrantal pamoate was 100% effective in eliminating
the infection of Ascaris suum from Wild Boars.
It was observed that regular faecal examination for parasitic ova/larva
along with assessment of parasitic load and administration of desired
anthelmintics, when warranted, at regular intervals would be able to curtail
parasitic infection. Quarantine measures for parasitic disease control need to
be standardized in Indian zoos. Chakraborty (1991) opined that the infection with the parasites having a
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