Gastro-Intestinal Parasites of Red Panda ( Ailurus Fulgens Fulgens Cuvier, 1825) In Rara National Park, Mugu, Nepal
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Central Department of Zoology Institute of Science and Technology Tribhuvan University Kirtipur, Kathmandu
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.