Gastrointestinal Parasites Of Swamp Deer (Rucervus Duvouceli Duvouceli Cuvier,1892) In Shuklaphanta National Pak, Kanchanpur, Nepal

Abstract

The swamp deer is one of the attractive hoofed ungulates found in Nepal. It is found in the low laying protected area in the grassland and floodplain located in the southwestern part of Nepal. To determine the distribution of intestinal parasites of Swamp deer, 100 fecal samples were collected from Suklaphanta National Park in three different grasslands i. e Suklaphanta grassland (main grassland), Barkaulaphanta and Singpurphanta in April, 2019. All the samples were microscopically as well as microscopically examined by fecal floatation and sedimentation techniques. Out of 100 faecal samples examined 80 samples is found to be positive. Total of (80%) were found to be positive for intestinal parasites. Altogether, ten different intestinal parasites were found to be prevalent in Swamp deer. Swamp deer of SNP were found infected by protozoa and helminthes i. e. nematodes and trematodes. Swamp deer were found to be infected with coccidian parasite i. e Eimeria sp. with micropyle and without micropyle 11. 25% and 26. 25% respectively. The deer were also found infected with two species of trematode parasite i. e. Fasciola sp. (80%) and Paramphistomum sp. (60%). Among nematodes, Strongyloides sp. had maximum prevalence of 15% followed by Strongyle sp. (10%), Muellerius sp. (10%), Trichostrongylussp. (2.5%), and least number Ascaris sp. (1.25%), Haemonchus sp. (1. 25%) and Dictylocalus sp. (1.25%) were observed. The deer were not found to be infected with cestode parasites. The study of intensity of parasitic load reported that maximum number of samples revealed the light intensity followed by mild, moderate and heavy intensity. Single infection was found more common than mixed infection. It was observed that the swamp deer residing in main grassland of suklaphanta were infected by parasites with significantly high rate compared to other two study area. To know the exact parasites upto the level and to know the better confirmation of result molecular identification and larvae culture should be done respectively.