Coprological analysis for estimating prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in captive sloth bears (Melursus ursinus)

¹Wild Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Institute of Animal Health and Veterinary Biologicals, Bannerghatta Biological Park, Bannerghatta-560 083, Bengaluru, India.

ABSTRACT

The aim of the present study was to investigate the gastrointestinal parasitic infestations in captive bears maintained in Wildlife SOS, Bannerghatta Biological Park, Bengaluru. A total of 85 fecal samples were collected over a period of 12 months from apparently normal/healthy captive bears and examined. The fecal samples were analysed using sedimentation and floatation techniques followed by microscopic identification of parasitic eggs. It revealed the prevalence of 51 (60%) Hymenolepis diminuta, 20 (23.52%) Toxocara sp ova, 3 (3.52%) Capillaria sp, 2 (2.35%) Trichuris sp ova, 2 (2.35%) Eimeria sp oocysts and 8 (9.41%) Ancylostomatid eggs. The study suggested that among different parasitic infections, the prevalence of cestodes was extremely higher, since insects were the intermediate hosts for the Hymenolepis sp. The study is suggestive of periodic anthelmintic therapy in the said species under captivity so as to maintain a sound health.

KEYWORDS

REFERENCES

Aghazadeh, M., Elson-Riggins, J., Reljiæ, S., Ambrogi, M.D., Huber, D., Majnariæ, D. and Hermosilla, C. (2015). Gastrointestinal parasites and the first report of Giardia spp. in a wild population of European brown bears (Ursus arctos) in Croatia. Vet. Arhiv., 85: 201-210.
Barret, R. and Dau, J. (1981). Parasitic diseases. In: Alaskan wildlife diseases. (Dieterich, R.A., Ed.), University of Alaska, Fairbanks, Alaska. pp. 79-186.
Baylis, H.A. and Daubney, R. (1922). Report on the parasitic nematodes in the collection of the zoological survey of India. Mem Indian Mus., 7: 263-347.
Choquette, L.P., Gibson, G.G. and Pearson, A.M. (1969). Helminths of the grizzly bear, Ursus arctos L., in northern Canada. Can J. Zool., 47: 167-170.
Couturier, M.A.J. (1954). L’Ours Brun. Cours J. Jaures. Grenoble, France:
Crum, J.M., Nettles, V.F. and Davidson, W.R. (1978). Studies on endoparasites of the black bear (Ursus americanus) in the southeastern United States. J. Wildl. Dis., 14: 178-186.
Dryden, M.W., Payne, A. and Ridley, S. (2005). Comparison of common fecal flotation techniques for the recovery of parasite eggs and oocysts. Vet. Therapeutics., 6(1): 14-28.
Foster, G.W., Cunningham, M.W., Kinsella, J.M. and Forrester, D.J. (2004). Parasitic helminths of black bear cubs (Ursus americanus) from Florida. J. Parasitol., 90: 173-175.
Goossensa, E., Dornya, P., Boomkerd, J., Vercammen, F. and Vercruysse. (2005). A 12-month survey of the gastro-intestinal helminthes of antelopes, gazelles and giraffes kept at two zoos in Belgium. Vet. Parasitol., 127: 303-312.
Hair, J.D. and Mahrt, J.L. (1970). Eimeria albertensis n.sp. and E. borealis n.sp. (Sporozoa: Eimeriidae) in black bears Ursus americanus from Alberta. J. Protozool., 17: 663-664.
Kashid, K.P., Shrikhande, G.B. and Bhojne, G.R. (2002). Incidence of gastrointestinal helminths in captive wild animals at different locations. Zoo’s Print J., 18(3): 1053-1054.
Khatun, M.M., Begum, N., Mamun, M.A.A., Mondal, M.M.H. and Shakif-Ul-Azam, M. (2014). Coprological study of gastrointestinal parasites of captive animals at Rangpur Recreational Garden and Zoo in Bangladesh. J. Threatened Taxa., 6(8): 6142-6147.
Kumar, N., Rao, T., Varghese, A. and Rathor, V. (2013). Internal parasite management in grazing livestock. J. Parasit. Dis., 37: 151-157.
Lane, C. (1916). The genus Ancylostoma in India and Ceylon. Indian J. Med. Res., 4: 74-92.
Mir, A., Dua, K., Singla, L., Sharma, S. and Singh, M. (2016). Prevalence of parasitic infection in captive wild animals in Bir Moti Bagh mini zoo (Deer Park), Patiala, Punjab. Vet. World., 9: 540-543.
Olsen, O.W. (1968). Uncinaria rauschi (Strongyloidea: Nematoda), a new species of hookworms from Alaskan bears. Can J. Zool., 46: 1113-1117.
Panayotova-Pencheva, M. (2013). Parasites in captive animals: A review of studies in some European zoos. Zool Garten NF., 82: 60-71.
Parsani, H.R., Momin, R.R., Maradin, M.G. and Veer, S. (2001). A survey of gastrointestinal parasites of captive animals at Rajkot munipical corporation zoo, Rajkot, Gujarat. Zoos’ Print J., 16(10): 604-606.
Rogers, L.L. and Rogers, S.M. (1976). Parasites of Bears: a Review. International Conf Bear Res and Manage., 3: 411-430.
Soulsby, E.J.L. (1982). Helminths, Arthropods and Protozoa of Domesticated Animals. 7th ed. Baillière Tindall, London.
Stiles, C.W. and Baker, C.E. (1935). Key-catalogue of parasites reported for Carnivora (cats, dogs, bears, etc.) with their possible public health importance. US Natl. Inst. Health. Bull., 163: 913-1223.
Thawait, V.K., Maiti, S.K. and Dixit, A.A. (2014). Prevalence of gastro-intestinal parasites in captive wild animals of Nandan Van Zoo, Raipur, Chhattisgarh. Vet. World., 7(7): 448-451.
Varadharajan, A. and Pythal, C. (1999). A preliminary investigation on the parasites of wild animals at the zoological garden, Thiru- vananthapuram, Kerala. Zoos’ Print J., 14(12): 159-164.
Yakimoff, W.L. and Matschoulsky, S.N. (1935). As coccidioses dos ursos, lobos e cães selvagens. Arq Inst Biol Sao Paulo., 6: 171-177.
Zasityte, R. and Grikienciene, T. (2002). Some data in endoparasites of common mole in Lithnani. Act Zoological Lituanica., 4(12): 403.

Disclaimer :

All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

Copyright :

This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Research Article

Coprological analysis for estimating prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in captive sloth bears (Melursus ursinus)

ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS

REFERENCES

In this Article

APC

Publish With US

Become a Reviewer/Member

Open Access

Products and Services

Support and Policies

Editorial Board