Incidence and seasonal variation of gastro-intestinal parasitic infections in captive carnivores in Nandankanan zoological park Orissa

Out of the 228 faecal samples (74 in rainy, 73 in winter and 81 in summer) of 11 types of captive carnivores of Nandankanan Zoo examined during September, 2005 to August, 2006, 138 (60.52%) were found positive for ova and oocysts of different gastrointestinal (GI) parasites. These included two trematodes, Schistosoma spp. (Lion) and Euparyphium spp. (jungle cat); one cestode, Hymenolepis spp. (sloth bear); five nematodes, Ancyclostoma spp. (tiger, lion, leopard, hyena and jungle cat), Toxocara spp. (tiger, lion, leopard and jungle cat), Toxascaris spp. (tiger, lion and jungle cat), Trichuris spp. (Hyena) and Physaloptera spp. (tiger); and oocysts of Isospora (tiger, lion and leopard). Incidence of Ancylostoma spp. was more common, followed by Toxocara spp. And Toxascaris spp. The overall incidence was highest during rainy season (63.51%), followed by summer (62.96%) and winter (54.29%). In addition to faecal sample examination, postmortem examination of one common palm civet revealed the presence of Rictularia cahirensis.