Prevalence and seasonal variation of gastrointestinal parasites among captive Northern Pig-tailed Macaque Macaca leonina (Mammalia: Primates: Cercopithecidae)

Abstract

A study on the prevalence and seasonal variations of gastrointestinal parasites of 12 captive Pig-tailed Macaques Macaca leonina housed at Aizawl Zoological Park, Mizoram, India, was conducted. Fresh stool samples were collected on a monthly basis from the study animals was grouped for two seasons—summer (April–June 2017) and monsoon (July–September 2017). Samples were stored in 10% formalin until further processing. Three methods—direct smear, faecal floatation, and faecal sedimentation were used. Two categories of parasites—protozoa and nematodes were recorded. Balantidium coli, a protozoa, Strongyle, Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichiuris trichiura, and nematode parasites were recorded in different stages. Out of 71 samples analysed, 63 samples (88.73%) were positive with ova of gastrointestinal parasites. The prevalence of Balantidium coli was highest with 38.23% and 56.75%, followed by Strongyle 35.29% and 37.83% in summer and monsoon season, respectively. A variation on the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites was assessed using chi squared tests between monsoon season and summer season. Variation was found to be significant (χ 2=20.569, P˂0.05 and χ 2=10.857, P˂0.05). The overall prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites was higher during monsoon season (91.89%) than summer season (85.29%).