Seasonal coprological survey for assessment of risk factors associated with gastrointestinal parasitism in zoo-housed animals of Punjab, India

ABSTRACT

A comprehensive coprological study was envisaged with an aim to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors with gastrointestinal parasitic infections in captive wild animals of the MC Zoological Park, Chhatbir, Punjab, India. Of 909 samples screened, 232 [25.52% (95% CI = 23.08–27.97%)] were positive for parasitic stages. The highest prevalence [37.73% (95% CI = 31.24–44.23)] was recorded in the monsoon season (during the first study year) followed by winter [32.33% (95% CI = 25.48–39.18)] and summer season, respectively. The animals kept in herds showed higher prevalence (23.30%) (95% CI = 17.11–29.50%) in comparison to the individually enclosed animals (9.02%) (95% CI = 4.82–13.22%). Based on feeding behavior, herbivores exhibited the highest prevalence [40.41% (95% CI = 36.49–44.37%)], followed by omnivores and carnivores with 6.85% (95% CI = 4.81–8.89%) and 5.71% (95% CI = 3.83–5.78%) prevalence, respectively. The present study highlighted the influence of seasonal variation, captivity pattern, and feeding behavior on the parasitic preponderance in zoo-housed wild animals and furnished the data for the implementation of control and management strategies in different seasons.

KEYWORDS:

• Gastrointestinal parasitism
• prevalence
• Punjab
• risk factors

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.