Seasonal variation in gastrointestinal parasitism of zoo-housed birds of Punjab, India

ABSTRACT

The present study was envisaged with an aim to assess the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasitic infections in zoo-housed birds of various zoological/deer parks and an aviary of Punjab, India. The fecal samples were screened using classic parasitological techniques including direct smear, floatation-concentration and sedimentation techniques. Out of 1273 samples screened, the birds of the MC Zoological Park, Bir Motibagh Deer Park Patiala, Patiala aviary, Bir Talab Deer Park Bathinda and Tiger safari Ludhiana evinced an overall gastrointestinal parasitic burden of 37.52, 25.54, 37.50, 45.39, 67.64%, respectively. The highest prevalence was recorded in the monsoon season [53.12% (95% CI = 44.52–61.73)] in the MC Zoological Park. Whereas Bir Motibagh Deer Park Patiala, Bir Talab Deer Park Bathinda and Tiger safari Ludhiana, exhibited highest prevalence of 31.91% (95% CI =20.41–43.40) (summer), 51.51% (95% CI = 36.81–66.21) (monsoon) and 87.5% (95% CI = 73.52–101.47) (winter), respectively. However, the highest prevalence [48.57% (95% CI = 34.29–62.84)] of gastrointestinal parasitism in the birds of Patiala aviary was recorded during monsoon season. The most common species of parasites recorded were of helminths: Ascaridia, Capillaria, Syngamus trachea etc.; cestodes: Hymenolepis and of coccidia. Thus, the prevalence data recorded in the present study would be availed for the implementation of control and management strategies against the parasitic burden in the zoo-housed birds.

KEYWORDS:

• Gastrointestinal parasitism
• prevalence
• Punjab
• zoo-housed birds

Acknowledgments

Authors are thankful to the Dean, Post Graduate Studies, GADVASU, Ludhiana and Chief Wildlife Warden, Punjab for providing all available helps to undertake this investigation. Thanks are also due to Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi for providing INSPIRE fellowship to the first author for his doctoral program.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest.