Gastrointestinal Parasites in Krishnasar (Antilope cervicapra) of Blackbuck Conservation Area, Bardiya and Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve, Kanchanpur

Abstract

Blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra) is near threatened species which are conserved in Blackbuck Conservation Area (BCA), Khairapur, Bardiya and Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve (SWR), Kanchanpur district. The present study was conducted to determine the prevalence of GI parasites of blackbuck in BCA and SWR. A total of 150 fresh faecalsampleswere collected from BCA and 70 faecal samples from SWR and examined by floatation, sedimentation and Stoll's counting technique by using Lugol's Iodine mount and saline mount. The GI parasites were found to be 90.00% in BCA and SWR. Protozoan parasites were found to be most prevalent in SWR (55.71%) compared to BCA(55.33%). While with regard to helminths, blackbucks of BCA were found to be more infected (90%) than SWR (88.57%). Helminths infection was comparatively more common than the protozoan infection in blackbuck of both BCA and SWR. Gastrointestinal parasites were more prevalent in female as compared to male and fawn. blackbuck of BCA were found to be infected with 12 different species of parasites which includes Entamoeba(20%) and Eimeria(45.33%) among protozoa;Paramphistomum(25.33%) and Fasciola(17.33%) among trematodes; Moniezia(14%) among cestode; Trichostrongylus(75.33%),Ascaris(57.33%),Haemonchus(18%),Strongyloides(16%),Bunostomum(12.67%),Trichuris (6%) andOxyuris (4.67%) among nematodes while blackbuck of SWR were found to be infected with 10 different parasitic genera i.e.Entamoeba(8.57%) and Eimeria(51.43%) among protozoa;Paramphistomum(38.57%),Fasciola (21.43%) and Schistosoma (7.14%) among trematodes; Trichostrongylus(55.71%), As caris (38.57%), Haemonchus (14.28%), Strongyloides (12.86%) and Bunostomum(2.86%) among nematodes. Among protozoans identified,Entamoeba was most prevalent in BCA compared to SWR whileEimeriawas comparatively higher inSWR than BCA. Three trematodes i.e. Paramphistomum, Fasciola and Schistosoma were more prevalent in SWR than BCA while Schistosoma was only reported from SWR. Monieziawas only observed in blackbuck of BCA. All of seven different nematodes were comparatively higher in BCA than SWR while Trichuris and Oxyuris were reported from BCA only.