Retrospective analysis on the prevalence of gastrointestinal helminth parasites in captive mammals and pheasants at padmaja naidu himalayan zoological park, Darjeeling

The present report is a retrospective analysis on the prevalence of parasites in various captive mammals and pheasants at Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, a high-altitude zoo located in Darjeeling. Of the 1638 faecal sample test reports compiled from the year 2015–2018, 108 (7%) were positive for parasites. The animals were mainly positive for ascarids eggs like Toxocara spp. Apart from these, Spirometra spp., Trichuris spp., Capillaria spp. and anoplocephalid eggs were also encountered. Animals belonging to the family canidae, viverridae and cervidae showed no infection. Ursids showed little or no infection throughout the study, whereas others exhibited parasites to a varying degree, highest being among the felidae (13%) followed by bovidae (6%), ailuridae (3%) and primates (2%). Phasianidae revealed infection with Capillaria spp. and Ascaridia spp. (13.08%). The low level of prevalence of parasites is discussed in the context of the deworming schedule carried out in the zoo.