Traumatic wound in a free ranging Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) Nagappa K1, Prakash Bhat2, Arup Kumar Das3, Bhaskar Chaudhury4 and J. L. Singh5 Due to the ensuing reduction of the forest area, spite of this meticulous management the animal there are often reports of human-animal conflicts. succumbed approximately after three months of its It is often difficult to trace such animals in the initial clinical management. The exact reason for forest and care for them. However, some of the the death was not ascertained and the pachyderm free-ranging animals are rehabilitated and given was disposed off as per the norms of the forest the necessary veterinary care (Nath et al. 2006). department. A free ranging tusker, aged approximately 40-45 years, was found traumatically injured in the References: Corbett Tiger Reserve, Ramnagar on May, 2006. Bush, M., J. P. Raath, V. de Vos and M. Stoskopf On detailed examination using binoculars, multiple (1996). Serum oxytetracycline levels in free-ranging traumatic injuries were found evident; the major male African elephants (Loxodonta africana) injected with a long-acting formulation. Journal of Zoo and ones were anterio-posterior oblique wound Wildlife Medicine 27 (3): 382-385. (about 20 cm long) on the lateral aspect of left metatarsal region; a lacerated wound at the lateral Bush, M., M.K. Stoskopf, J.P. Raath and M.G. Papich aspect of the stifle region; and a prominent multi- (2000). Serum oxytetracycline concentrations in focal wound with irregular and ecchymosed borders African elephant (Loxodonta africana) calves after long- on the midline of perineum. There were no acting formulation injection. Journal of Zoo and Wildlife premonitory signs of maggot infestation. In spite Medicine 31(1):41-46. of such wounds the animal appeared apparently Mikota, S.K. and D.C. Plumb (2006). The Elephant normal, active and able to bear weight. Benzathine Formulary: Oxytetracycline, Elephant Care International. Penicillin, reconstituted in pyrogen free sterile http://www.elephantcare.org/ water was delivered through dart into gluteus muscle each time darting materials were retrieved Nath, I., K.L. Purohit, S.K. Mishra, S.K. Panda, after the delivery of the drug. Wounds were V.S.C. Bose (2006). Two cases of rehabilitation of irrigated with a jet of potassium permanganate recumbent elephants. Zoos Print Journal 21(9): 2417- (1:10,000) daily and a jet spray of BHC (0.2%) was 2418. advised prophylactically twice weekly to take care of maggots since BHC could be jet sprayed over the Acknowledgement: wound from a safe distance. Authors express their sincere gratitude to Dr. R. J. Sharma Dean, College of Veterinary & Keeping in view the risk of tranquilization in Animal Sciences, Pantnagar, Dr. Srikant Chandola elephants in free range and constraints with (Chief Wild Life Warden, Dehradun) and Dr. Rajiv respect to its location i.e. tough forest with Bartari (Director, Corbett Tiger Reserve) for undulating geography and vicinity to water and providing all necessary facilities. also difficulty in approaching the animal, it was decided not to tranquilize it. Further, the animal showed improvement with normal movement and feeding after the initial endeavor. However, approximately 6 weeks after the initial treatment the free ranging tusker was sighted again in the forest. this time, the tusker was tranquilized (Ketamine-100 + Xylazine 100) using a dart in free range, approached and sandwiched between two kunkis for the treatment. The wounds were thoroughly debribed, irrigated with potassium permanganate and povidone iodine. Oxytetracycline (LA) was injected intramuscularly. Although, there are reservations in some veterinarians with respect to the use of *1Ph D scholar, Department of Veterinary Public Oxytetracycline in elephants; however, it has been Health, G. B. Pant University of Agriculture & successfully used in both the African and Asian Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand- 263 145 elephants (Mikota and Plumb 2006; Bush et al. and Author for correspondence 1996, 2000). E-mail: [email protected] 2Assistant Professor, Department of Veterinary To take care of the in-appetence that developed Clinics 3 subsequently (after 6 weeks) vitamin B-complex Associate Professor, Department of Veterinary Surgery & Radiology, and ranitidine were injected. Daily omeprazole was E-mail: [email protected] given orally mixed with an offered food (one 4Veterinary Officer, WTA quitantal fodder, around 3 kg chapaties mixed with 5Associate Professor, Department of Veterinary molasses and salt) in a semi confined condition. In Clinical Medicine ZOOS' PRINT, Volume XXV, Number 5, May 2010, (RNI 11:8) 17 Seasonal Variation in Prevalence of Helminthic Infection in the Captive Spotted Deer at Nagpur Pravin Jadhav1, Kapil Jadhav2, Prashant Chavan3, Bahar Baviskar4 and D. K. Maske5 Introduction infection was recorded in the rainy season. Similar Despite proper care and management, animals in observations were reported by Hussain et al. captivity are under constant stress and are prone (2002) and Chavan et al. (1973). Most of the to parasitic infections and their health status varies infections were with a single species and with various factors such as management, feeding, combination of two species occurred rarely. environment, sanitation and season. Lots of Infection in the order of prevalence was information is available on gastrointestinal Strongyloides, Strongyle, Haemonchus, helminthes related to the morphology of parasites, Pesophagostomum and Trichuris sp. Parasitic but information stating seasonal variation of infection has certain ill effects on health status of helminths in captive spotted deer (Axis axis) is the animal such as weakness and emaciation and meager. Present study was undertaken to assess predisposes those animals to other potential the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasitic pathogens. Complete eradication of helminthes infections in captive spotted deer. infection seems difficult therefore periodic treatment of helminthic infections is highly Methodology recommended for better health management of Altogether 200 freshly dropped faecal samples of captive wild animals. captive spotted deer were collected from two different places (Balodyan & Maharaj Bag Zoo) in Conclusion Nagpur region in two different seasons i. e. Conducting regular epidemiological survey of the summer (March to April) & rainy season (June to captive wild animals to study the prevalence of July) of the year 2007. Fifty samples were collected parasitic infections seems indispensable as it will randomly from each place in each season. The help to curb the losses occurring due to parasites faecal samples were collected in clean sterile by undertaking effective control measures. containers and examined in laboratory by sedimentation method. The ova of helminthes References: were identified on the basis of morphology as Chakraborty, A. (1992). Trichuris sp. infection in wild reported by Soulsby (1982). captive herbivores. Journal of Veterinary Parasitology 6(2):37-40. Results and Discussion The incidence and percentage of helminthic Chauhan. P. P. S., B. B. Bhatia, G. S. Arora, R. D. infection in captive spotted deer (Axis axis) is Agrawal and S. S. Ahluwalia (1973). A preliminary survey of parasitic infection among mammals and birds presented in the Table 1. In almost all the animals at Lucknow and Delhi zoos. Indian Journal of Animal mild to moderate infections were seen without Science 43 (2):163-168. apparent clinical symptoms. The examination of faecal samples of these captive spotted deer Hussain K., D. B. Sarode, N. P. Dakshinkar, A. M. showed the presence of ova of Stongyloides sp. Rode, M. D. Kothekar and D. K. Maske (2002). which was also observed by Maske et al., (1990) Prevalence of helminthic infection in Axis deer at Nagpur and Hussain et al., (2002) at the same place. They 79: 1313-1314. also reported the presence of ova of Strongyles sp., Haemonchus sp. & Oesophagostomum sp. in the captive spotted deer (Axis axis). The ova of Trichuris sp. were also reported during faecal examination and similar reports have been made in captive spotted deer by Kashid et al. (2003) and in captive wild herbivorous by Chakraborty (1992). 1&2C/o K. P. Bondre, 209, Gokulpeth, Near Trichuris sp. infection in captive wild herbivorous Aradhana complex, Nagpur has also been reported by Varadharajan & E-mail: [email protected], Kandasamy (2000), & Hussain et al. (2002). Kashid E-mail: [email protected]. et al. (2003) observed 100% helminth infection in 3Taj nagar, Post: Digras, Tal- Digras, Dist. spotted deer at Balodyan deer park. In present Yavatmal investigation Strongyloides infection was found Email: [email protected]. predominant in both the season. Highest 4Corresponding Author: C/o S. V. Baviskar, percentage of strongyloides infection has also been Hanuman Peth, Post. Sakali, Tal. Yawal, Dist. Jalgaon recorded by Varadharajan and Kandasamy (2000). E-mail: [email protected]. All the animals examined shared the common 5Department of Veterinary Parasitology, Nagpur pasture and pens and drinking water sources. Veterinary College, Seminary Hills, Nagpur. Dist. Altogether higher prevalence of endoparasitic Nagpur (MS) 440006. 18 ZOOS' PRINT, Volume XXV, Number 5, May 2010, (RNI 11:8) Table 1: The incidence and percentage of helminthic infection in captive spotted deer (Axis axis). Sr. Type Of Helminthic No . infection found SUMMER SEASON RAINY SEASON Maharaj Bagh Maharaj Bagh Balodyan zoo Balodyan zoo No of No of No of No of positive In positive In positive In positive In cases (%) cases (%) cases (%) cases (%) 1 Strongyloid sp. 13 26% 10 20% 16 32% 18 36% 2 Strongyle sp. 09 18% 11 22% 10 20% 11 22% 3 Hemonchus sp. 06 12% 04 08% 06 12% 08 16% 4 Oesophagostomum sp. 02 04% - - 02 04% 04 08% 5 Trichuris sp. - - - - 04 08% 02 04% Kashid, K. P., G. B. Shrikhande and G. R. Bhojne Protozoa of Domestic animals. Lea and Febiger, (2003). Incidence of gastrointestinal helminths in Philadelphia. 808-815 pp. captive wild animals at different locations. Zoos Print Journal 18(3):1053-1054. Varadharajan, A. and A. Kandasamy (2000). A survey of gastro-intestinal parasites of wild animals in Maske, D. K., M. R. Sardey and N.