PREVALENCE OF GASTRO-INTESTINAL PARASITES IN CAPTIVE ANIMALS OF SIDDHART GARDEN ZOO AT AURANGABAD CITY, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA. Khan I.A.*, Shaikh J.D.*. Kale M.K. ** Jadhav V.D.** Dama L.B. # and Ragade Vinod R.* *Department of Zoology, Maulana Azad College Aurangabad, M.S. India. **Department of Zoology, K.S.K. College, Beed. *** Department of Zoology, Annasaheb Waghire College, Otur Dist. Pune. # Department of Zoology, D.B.F. Dayanand College of Arts and Science, Solapur (M.S.), India. * Department of Zoology, V.G Vaze College, Mumbai, (M.S.), India. ABSTRACT Present study shown that the prevalence and incidence of gastro intestinal parasites in captive animals which are conserve in Siddhartha garden at Aurangabad city (Maharashtra).There are total 202 faecal samples were collected from different captive animals. These faecal samples were collected during the period Jan-2014 to June-2014. The overall incidence of gastrointestinal parasitic infection was 15.84 %. Out of which prevalence of Helminths parasites was 08.41 % and 07.42 % identified the protozoan parasites respectively. Among helminth parasites there are (06.93%) no. of positive cases were observed as Nematodes and only (01.48 %) no. of positive cases was found as Cestodes. Due to high prevalence of gastro-intestinal parasites, the present study suggests to apply the control and preventive measures & precautions against these parasites in order to safety specially of health of captive animals and conservation of wild life. KEY WORDS: captive animals, gastro intestinal parasites, prevalence. INTRODUCTION A regular programme of gastro intestinal parasites surveillance and control measures like effective treatment on the basis of correct diagnosis,it will be improve and progress the health of captive zoo animals.consideration of these facts and situation,the present study was identify the gastro-intestinal parasite and determination of their prevalence on the base of their developmental stages in faecal samples from captive animals of Siddhartha garden zoo at Aurangabad city ( Maharashtra ).Aurangabad city in Maharashtra ( India ) is named after the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.The city is a tourism hub, surrounded by many historical monuments, which are UNISCO World Heritage Sites.It is also the regional,commercial and service hub.which attracts industries and commercial enterprises. The city is surrounded hill on all directions. The climate features are semi-arid climate. Aurangabad is fast attracting for migrant due to the availability of amenities and modern social service facilities. Such as advanced hospitals, innovative and result oriented schools and colleges, running water electricity and recreations. It is one of the very fastest business opportunity city In order to develop a relevant parasite control programme for captive zoo animals in Aurangabad city.in the past 2 decades, driven in part by the planets alarming loos of biodiversity, zoos have developed new paradigms with greater emphasis or research, education and conservatives of species and habitats. (Conway -1989-Mallinson 1995; Hutchins et.al.1992). The world zoo conservation strategy emphasis that the use of a variety of education techniques,facilities and consideration together with knowledge, creativity and inventiveness can make zoos highly interesting, attractive, and effective places for environmental, conservation and holistic life system of education. Today zoological gardens or zoos provide an opportunity to open up a whole new world of curiosity and sensitize visitors regarding the values and needs for conservation of wild life. Zoos gradually over the years are devoting, more of their resources to research, education and conservation of animals in the wild life. United Nation declaring the coming decade for sustainable development, zoos definitely can and need to play a major role. Zoos all over the world serve same 600 million visitors annually. According to some resources in India there are more than 150 zoos. They attract as many as 50 million visitors annually. MATERIALS AND METHODS Selection of animals: This study includes the captive animals of Siddhartha garden zoo at Aurangabad city.202 faecal samples were collected. Out of which 08.41 % Helminths and 07.42 % protozoans were observed in different captive animals, like Tiger, white Tiger, Indian tiger, Leopard, Black bear, Hyena, Indian wolf,jackal,civet Cat, Fox, dog, Rhesus Monkey, Langour, Rabbit, Elephant, Deer and Neel Gaye. Volume 3 Issue 1 (2014) ISSN: 2319 314X (Print); 2319 3158 (Online) 2014 DAMA International. All rights reserved. 12
Collection and preservation of samples : Fresh faecal sample were collected with the help of each animal care takers in the early morning. After collection the faecal samples was placed in a polythene bags containing 10 % formalin. Then the polythene bag was tied to ovoid contamination and for precautionary each sample was marked according to species. Examination: The samples were undertaken for the microscopic examination. The ova, cysts, oocyst, and larvae of different parasites were identified according to the morphology and quantity. Egg of Strongylus sps Egg of spirometra sps coccidian Egg of trichuris Egg of hook worm Volume 3 Issue 1 (2014) ISSN: 2319 314X (Print); 2319 3158 (Online) 2014 DAMA International. All rights reserved. 13
Table: 1.Intensity of different parasites in different captive animals at Siddhartha Garden in Aurangabad city. Sr. no. Animals Names No.of Sample Collected No.of Sample Examined No. of positive cases Prevalence percentage(%) 01 Tiger 10 10 02 20.00 02 White Tiger 10 10 02 20.00 03 Indian Lion 10 10 02 20.00 04 Leopard 10 10 01 10.00 05 Black Bear 12 12 01 08.33 06 Hyena 10 10 02 20.00 07 Indian wolf 12 12 02 16.66 08 Jackal 10 10 02 20.00 09 Civet Cat 10 10 03 30.00 10 Fox 12 12 01 08.33 11 Dog 15 15 01 06.66 12 Rhesus Monkey 12 12 02 16.66 13 Languor 15 15 02 13.33 14 Rabbit 12 12 03 25.00 15 Elephant 12 12 02 16.66 16 Deer 15 15 03 20.00 17 Neel Gaye 15 15 02 13.33 Figure 1. No. of sample collected and examined from different captive animals in Siddhartha Garden in Aurangabad city. Figure 2. Intensity of different parasites in different captive animals at Siddhartha Garden in Aurangabad city. Volume 3 Issue 1 (2014) ISSN: 2319 314X (Print); 2319 3158 (Online) 2014 DAMA International. All rights reserved. 14
Table: 2.Prevalence and Intensity of eggs/cyst/oocysts of different parasites in different captive animals at Siddhartha Garden in Aurangabad city. Sr.No. Animal s Name No. Of Sample Examined No.of positive cases Parasites found 01 Tiger 10 02 02 White Tiger 10 02 03 Indian Lion 10 02 Spirometra sps. 04 Leopard 10 01 05 Black bear 12 01 06 Hyena 12 02 Hook worm 07 Indian Wolf 12 02 Spirometra sps. 08 Jackal 10 02 09 Civet Cat 10 03 10 Fox 12 01 11 Dog 15 01 Spirometra sps. 12 Rhesus Monkey 12 02 13 Languor 15 02 Coccidia sps 14 Rabbit 12 03 15 Elephant 12 02 16 Deer 15 03 17 Neel Gaye 15 02 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The overall incidence and abundance of gastro intestinal parasites identified was 15.84 % (32/202) of which 08.41 % (17) were helminths parasites and 07.42 % (15) were protozoan parasites identified respectively. The identification of parasites as protozoans i.e,(,coccidius sps.) and helminths are (Hook worm, trichuris sps,spirometra sps, strongeles sps. The different in findings demonstrates that even under a similar setup, parasite prevalence might still be very different geographic conditions, management, practices, animal food sources and other influences. In non human primates the isolated parasites are included trichuris sps.balantidum coli and unidentified Strongyles. are having the highest prevalence. Trichuris sp. has aften been recorded in primates (Mutani et.al.2003,kimberley et. al. 2004: Corden et.al. 2008 : Li et.al. 2008: Singh et.al. 2009) and has been previously reported by Leveck et.al. (2007). The total abundance of infection of gastro-intestinal parasite was observed 15.84 %. Out of these the infection of helminths parasites were just higher (08.41 % ), than protozoan parasites (07.42 % ) in Siddhartha garden zoo at Aurangabad city (Maharashtra, India).Gastro intestinal parasites were observed in Siddhartha garden zoo animals. Volume 3 Issue 1 (2014) ISSN: 2319 314X (Print); 2319 3158 (Online) 2014 DAMA International. All rights reserved. 15
Better management practices and adequate measures are important strategies to control the gastro intestinal parasites. Further long term epidemiological studies of parasite infection are essential to understand infection routs and prevent the possible recurrence of infection in captive and other animals at the zoo. This type of study will provide a clear concept regarding parasitic infection of the wild animals, and will help to develop appropriate preventive measures. REFERENCES Cartwright B. (2006). Human Wildlife Conflict Resolution: The Role of Conservation Education and Environmental Communication in the Re-introduction of the African Great Apes. Master's thesis, Royal Roads University, Victoria, BC, Canada. Chaunha P.P.S., B. Bhatia, G.S. Arora, R.D. Agrawal & S.S. Ahluwalia (1973). A preliminary survey of parasitic infections among mammals and birds at Lucknow and Delhi Zoo. Indian J. Animal Sci. 43(2): 163 168. Chivers D.J. (1991). Guidelines for re-introductions: procedures and problems. In: J.H.W. Gipps (ed.), Beyond Captive Breeding: Re-introducing Endangered Mammals to the Wild. Symposium of the Zoological Society of London 62, pp. 89 99. Clarendon Press, Oxford. Conway W.G. (1989). The prospects for sustaining species and their evolution. In: D. Western and M.C. Pearl (eds.), Conservation for the Twenty-first Century, pp. 199 210. Oxford University Press, New York. Corden P., Prados G.H., Romero A., Sanchez M.S., Pontes M., Osuna A. and Rosales M.J. (2008). Intestinal parasitism in the animals of the zoological garden Pen a Escrita (Almun ecar, Spain). Vet. Parasitol. 156: 302 309. Illespie T. 2006. Noninvasive assessment of gastrointestinal parasite infections in free-ranging primates. International J. Primatol. 27:1129 1143. Leveck B., P.G.T. Dorny F. Vercammen and Vereronysse J. (2007). Gastrointestinal protozoa in non- human primates of four zoological gardens in Belgium. Vet. Parasitol. 148: 236 246. Kanungo S., A. Das G.M. and Shakif-ul-Azam (2010). Prevalence of gastro-intestinal helminthiasis in captive deer of Bangladesh. Wayamba J. Animal Sci.2: 42 45. Kleiman D.G. (1989). Reintroduction of captive mammals for conservation. Bioscience. 39(3):152 161. Mallinson J.J.C. (1995). Conservation breeding programmes: an important ingredient for species survival. Biodiversity Conservation. 4(6):617 635. Nunn C.L. and Altizer S. (2006). Infectious Diseases in Primates: Behavior, Ecology and Evolution. Oxford University Press, Oxford. Kumar A., L.D. Singla G.S. Singla Aulakh and Singh J. (2005). Management of piperazine resistance toxocariosis with ivermectin in lion (Panthera leo). J. Parasitic Dis. 29(2): 156 160 Volume 3 Issue 1 (2014) ISSN: 2319 314X (Print); 2319 3158 (Online) 2014 DAMA International. All rights reserved. 16