Epidemiology and chemotherapy of parasitic infections in wild omnivores in the Mahendra Choudhury Zoological Park, Chhat Bir, Punjab

Abstract

The present investigation deals with the occurrence and intensity of gastrointestinal helminthic infections along with chemotherapeutic response in 13 different omnivore species belonging to Primate, Ursidae, Suidae and Viverridae at M.C Zoological Park, Chhatbir in Punjab, India. The overall occurrence of gastrointestinal parasites based on copro-parasitoscopic analysis (CPS) of 317 samples for helmithic eggs was found to be 29.02 per cent. The various parasitic eggs detected were Trichuris spp, Hymenolepis diminuta, Strongyloides spp, Ascaris suum and Ascaris spp. The most common parasitic infection found in omnivores specially the primates was of Trichuris spp. (86.96%). Mixed infection of Trichuris spp. and H. diminuta was recorded in assamese monkeys with highest intensity of Trichuris spp. The EPG for Trichuris spp varied from 1800-7500. The EPG ranging from 100-750 was recorded for H. diminuta and Strongyloides spp which was followed by that of Trichuris spp. in rhesus monkeys, Ascaris suum in wild boar, Trichuris spp in capped langur, Trichuris spp in common langur, and Ascaris spp. in sloth bear. In assamese monkeys the infection was concurrent to tuberculosis. Treatment of animals with appropriate drug based on the species of parasites present was found to be 100 per cent effective as indicated by faecal egg count reduction test which reached zero level 5-30 days post treatment. There was no re-occurrence of parasitic infection till day 55 post treatment.