Gastro-Intestinal Parasites of Red Panda (Ailurus Fulgens Fulgens Cuvier, 1825) in Rara National Park, Mugu, Nepal

Abstract

The present study has been carried out to determine the prevalence of gastro-intestinal parasites in Red Panda (Ailurus fulgens fulgens) of Rara National Park, Mugu, Nepal. A total of 22 faecal samples of Red Panda were collected in the month of May/June 2011 and 21 faecal samples from the same site during the month of May/June 2012. All the samples were microscopically examined by faecal floatation and sedimentation techniques. Out of 43 faecal samples examined, 40 samples (93.00%) were found to be positive for gastro-intestinal parasites. Altogether, 12 different species of gastro-intestinal parasites were recovered from Red Panda. Among them, two species of protozoan parasites and 10 species of helminthes were observed. In protozoan parasites, Eimeria (67.44%) was more prevalent than Entamoeba (62.79%). Among helminthes, Oxyuris sp. showed the highest prevalence rate followed by Toxoascaris sp. (48.84%), Hookworm (44.19%), Baylisascaris sp. and Crenosoma sp. (34.88%), Strongyloides sp. and Moniezia sp. (18.60%), Trichuris sp. and Metastrongylus sp. (4.65%) and Angiostrongylus sp. (2.33%). Only one species of cestoda i.e. Moniezia sp. was found but trematoda and acanthocephalans were not found in Red Panda of Rara National Park. The concurrency of parasite infection indicated highest for multiple and quintuple infection. Intensity of infection revealed that the Red Pandas of RNP were infected heavily by protozoan parasites; Eimeria and Entamoeba and helminth parasites; Oxyuris, Baylisascaris, and Trichuris indicating that parasitic infection possess an important threat in conservation of Red Panda in Nepal.