1Wildlife Institute of India
2Wildlife Veterinary Physicians, Tiger Reserves, Madhya Pradesh
Centre for Wildlife Forensic and Health, Nanaji Deshmukh Veterinary Science University, Jabalpur-482001, Madhya Pradesh, India
*Corresponding author. Email: kpsinghbaghel@yahoo.com
Online published on 18 December, 2018.
The present study deals with occurrence of Paragonimus spp. in free ranging big cats in different tiger reserves of central India. Necropsy of tiger and leopard carcasses as well as scat examination were carried out to record the prevalence of lung flukes in protected forests areas. Out of 43 cases including 16 carcasses and 27 faecal samples, 17 (39.5%) were found positive for Paragonimus spp. Carcasses of three tigers and three leopards revealed congestion of lung parenchyma with numerous cysts harbouring lung flukes. Histopathology revealed engorged capillaries with infiltration around bronchioles with cross section of parasites.
Lung Fluke, Paragonimus, Big Cats, Necropsy, Coprodiagnosis, Histopathology
