Studies on the prevalence and management of parasitic infections in zoo animals

A coprological survey was made to assess the spectrum of helminth parasites in Mithun and other co-existing wild livestock in Bhutan and neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh (India). Nematodes with direct life cycle were found to be most predominant helminth infection among these animals. Cestodes and trematodes were poorly represented as their occurrence is primarily determined by the presence of the invertebrate intermediate hosts in the locality of the final host.

Preliminary survey of gastro-intestinal helminth infection in herbivorous livestock of mountainous regions of Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh

Manuscript 1001; Received 14 Feb 2003; Revised finally accepted 29 April 2004; © Zoo Outreach Organisation 1540 ABSTRACT Helminthiasis in wild carnivores can cause high morbidity and mortality specially in young ones. This paper discusses in brief on the occurrence of helminthic infestation in wild carnivores as reported from India. They suffer from trematodes, cestodes, nematodes and acanthocephala infestation. Paragonimiasis, hydatidosis, dinofilariasis, hookworm infection and toxocariasis appear to be common among these animals. The various helminths recorded from Indian wild carnivores along with the host animal and location of the parasite have been listed. Infestation with trematodes, cestodes and nematodes have been frequently reported but there appears to be only one report of acanthocephala infestation from a Jungle Cat. The paper also discusses about the principles of control measures for helminthiasis in wild carnivores that can be adopted in Indian zoos.

http://www.zoosprint.org/ZooPrintJournal/2004/July/1540-43.pdf

Helminthiasis in captive wild carnivores and its control in India

FLOTAC for diagnosis of endo-parasites in pet squirrels in southern Italy.

Manuscript 1015c; Received 18 March 2003; Finally accepted 2 December 2003; © Zoo Outreach Organisation 1454 The Nilgiri Langur (Semnopithecus johnii) is an endangered Primate found exclusively in the Western Ghats (Kurup, 1975), being distributed from the Kanyakumari hills (8oN) at the southern tip of the Indian peninsula to the Coorg hills in Karnataka (12oN). It is usually found in tropical evergreen forests at altitudes above 500m. However, in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, Nilgiri Langur is found even in foot hills where the riverine forests are contiguous with the forests of upper slopes. They are folivorous, young leaves being the dominant food item. Leaves, seeds, fruits, flowers and flower buds are consumed from over 90 plant species. Nilgiri Langur has presently suffered population decline mainly due to habitat destruction, poaching for the supposedly medicinal properties of its meat, habitat loss due to natural calamities and diseases. Recent survey in Tamil Nadu have indicated further decline from the earlier estimates (Sunderaj & Johnsingh, 2001). Data on the diseases and mortality of the wild stock are still meager. This paper attempts to assess the parasitic load of the Nilgiri Langur.

http://www.zoosprint.org/ZooPrintJournal/2004/April/1454.pdf

A survey of gastro-intestinal parasitic infection in Nilgiri Langur (Semnopithecus johnii) at Kalakkad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, Tamil Nadu

Information on the parasitic load of two endangered primates, Lion-tailed Macaque and Nilgiri Langur, inhabiting Silent Valley National Park were collected during the period 1994- 95. Parasitic load within these primate species in captivity were also ascertained and compared with that of the wild. The major intestinal parasites identified from the wild samples were Trechuris sp . and Oesophagostomum sp . The mode of transmission and the factors affecting the transmission of these parasites in the closed canopy conditions in the wild were discussed. The infection with these parasites may result in weak and unhealthy members in the troop and the heavier parasitic infestation may be fatal to the juveniles. Thus parasitism is also a threat to the viability of the existing population of endangered primates in the National Park.

A Coprological Survey of Parasites in Two Endangered Primates of Silent Valley National Park, Kerala

http://www.zoosprint.org/ZooPrintJournal/1999/July/69.pdf

Pinworm infection in an Indian Palm Squirrel (Funambulus palmarum) in Kerala

http://www.zoosprint.org/ZooPrintJournal/1999/April/6.pdf

K. Madhavan Pillai

Papers

A Coprological Survey of Parasites in Two Endangered Primates of Silent Valley National Park, Kerala

Pinworm infection in an Indian Palm Squirrel (Funambulus palmarum) in Kerala

Artyfechinostomum malayanum (Leiper, 1911) Mendheim, 1943 from a Small Indian Civet (Viverricula indica)