Abstract
Little is known about gastrointestinal parasite infections in wild ruminants. Faecal survey of parasitic prevalence plays an important role in wildlife management. The Wildlife interface regions, adjoining regions of forests serve as potential marker zones that serve to intermediate buffer zones that provide the viable ecology for the transit of various parasites between domestic and wild animals sharing the same landscape. Parasitic infections can cause disease and death in wild animals and can become a source of infection for domestic animals. Epidemiological studies are important to know about the status and transmission of these diseases. Parasitic diseases are best controlled by preventing the contact and parasite transmission between wild and domestic animals and by manipulating the factors involved in the disease transmission. The aim of this paper was to find out the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in gaur (bos gaurus) and domestic cattle at interface zones of the nilgiri hills. Qualitative examination of faecal samples from wild gaur (n=30) sharing ecosystem with domestic cattle (n=20) in the Nilgiri hills was done by Centrifugal sedimentation method and Floatation method. The prevalence was 63.3% and 80.0% in wild gaur and domestic cattle respectively with overall prevalence of 70.0%. The helminthes observed were trematodes (13.3%) include Fasciola sp. (3.3%), Amphistome sp. (6.7%) and Schistosoma sp. (3.3%), cestodes (20.0%) include Moniezia sp. nematodes (43.3%) include Toxocara sp. (6.7%), Strongyle sp. (23.3%), Oesophagostomum sp. (3.3%), Trichuris sp. (6.7%) and Mecistocirrus sp. (3.3%) and unsporulated Coccidia oocysts (13.3%) in wild gaur. It was concluded that, parasitic prevalence survey is vital in monitoring the impact on the health and maintenance of wild gaur population, and the prevalence of GI parasites recorded in the wild gaur and domestic cattle in the study areas shows the need to design and implement a control policy of helminth parasites in the Nilgiri hills.
Highlights
Little is known about gastrointestinal (GI) parasite infections in wild ruminants
The information available regarding biodiversity of GI nematodes in wild gaur population from the Nilgiri hills including of Mudumalai Wildlife sanctuary is lacking, and meager in wild animals due to paucity of systematic investigation [1]
A number of factors threaten the existence of wild animals in India, including infectious parasitic diseases arising from gastrointestinal parasites [8,9]
Summary
Little is known about gastrointestinal (GI) parasite infections in wild ruminants. The information available regarding biodiversity of GI nematodes in wild gaur population from the Nilgiri hills including of Mudumalai Wildlife sanctuary is lacking, and meager in wild animals due to paucity of systematic investigation [1]. The advance of agriculture and cattle-raising into natural areas, humans and their domestic animals have recently been coming into greater contact with populations of wild animals in their habitats. This closer contact facilitates the spread of infectious agents and parasites to new hosts and environments, thereby establishing new relationships between hosts and parasites, and new ecological niches in the disease transmission chain [6]. A number of factors threaten the existence of wild animals in India, including infectious parasitic diseases arising from gastrointestinal parasites [8,9]. Parasitic diseases constitute one of the major problems causing even mortality in wild animals, the effects of which range from sub-clinical to death. Parasites can affect host survival and reproduction directly through pathological effects (blood loss, tissue damage, spontaneous abortion, congenital malformations and death) and indirectly by reducing the host's immunity and affecting the physical condition [9]
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