VETERINARY RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL Journal homepage: www.jakraya.com/journal/vri REVIEW ARTICLE Endoparasites of Wildlife (Carnivores) of Karnataka State, India - An Overview K. Muraleedharan Professor, University Head and Professor (Retired), University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru-560 065, India, Present Address: No. B 3, Yasoram Tejus Apartments, Vennala High School Road, Vennala, Kochi-682 028, Kerala, India. Abstract Many species of wild carnivores were maintained in zoos and national parks of Karnataka state. They were found infected with different *Corresponding Author: gastrointestinal helminths mainly comprised of Toxocara, Toxascaris, Ancylostoma, strongyles, Taenia and Spirometra based on coprological and K. Muraleedharan post-mortem examinations. Rare incidence of Paragonimus, Diphyllobothrium and Physaloptera was also reported. The pathological Email: [email protected] effects associated with helminths were indicated. Depending upon the severity and the type of infections, the infected animals exhibited different grade of clinical signs leading to morbidity and mortality. Regarding protozoan infections, Isospora felis in tiger and and three rare eimerian species, Eimeria hartmanni, E. novowenyoni and a new species E. Received: 15/05/2016 anekalensis in panther were identified. Mortality from haemoflagellate, Trypanosoma evansi was occasionally reported in tigers and rarely in other Revised: 18/06/2016 carnivores. PHA and PCR were standardized for the diagnosis of cryptic form of T. evansi in captive wild animals. Three isolates of trypanosomes Accepted: 21/06/2016 from canine, leopard and lion with decending order in their virulence were obtained. Routine medications with anthelmintics, coccidiostats and chemoprophylactics against T. evansi checked most of the parasitic problems. Effective monitoring and surveillance of infection, control of anthelmintic resistance and implementation of improved sanitary measures and avoidance of access to intermediate hosts have been stressed. Keywords: Captive Carnivores, Endoparasites, Incidence, Pathological Findings, Treatment and Control. 1. Introduction and Veterinary Biologicals (IAH and VB), Bengaluru, Karnataka State is endured with considerable Veterinary Section, Mysore Zoo, Mysuru and Wild variety of wildlife which includes mainly carnivores Animal Disease Laboratory at Bannerghatta Biological such as tigers, lions, leopards and jaguars. The well- Park, Bengaluru, besides other veterinary diagnostic maintained Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens laboratories of the state. Moreover, the recent (Mysore Zoo) at Mysuru as well as 21 wildlife establishment of Institute of Wildlife Veterinary sanctuaries and five national parks are exclusively for Research, Doddaluvara, and Kodagu by KUAFSU has protecting these animals. Occasional disease problems a major step forward to take care of management and are of great concern to the health of these animals. health of wild animals. The present review is an Besides bacteria, viruses and rickettsia, many parasites assemblage of available information from publications are common to wild and domestic animals and they are and other relevant sources on the occurrence of inter-transmissible and even communicable to human endoparasites and the diseases caused by them in wild who are in close contact with them. The carnivores of Karnataka state. epidemiological studies on the prevalence and incidence of these parasites are important to know the 2. Source of Information status of various infections and to take up control Systematic surveys and routine examinations measures. Now adequate facilities are available to based on coprology (CE) provided information on the detect parasitism, even up to molecular levels, at four prevalence of helminths and protozoan cysts in veterinary colleges functioning at Bengaluru, Bidar, carnivores under captivity at Mysore Zoo, Mysuru and Hassan and Shivamogga, Institute of Animal Health Bannerghatta National/Biological Park (BPP), Veterinary Research International | April-June, 2016 | Vol 4 | Issue 2 | Pages 54-62 © 2016 Jakraya Publications (P) Ltd Muraleedharan… Endoparasites of Wildlife (Carnivores) of Karnataka State, India - An overview Bengaluru and Tiger and Lion Safari (TLS), Tyavarekoppa, Shivamogga. The faecal samples were 3.2.1 Helminths and Coccidia usually examined after centrifugal sedimentation or Comparatively higher percentage of lions had floatation techniques. The number of worms voided in ascarid infection. Muraleedharan et al. (1990) faeces or collected from dead animals at post-mortem documented an unusual incidence of 100.00% of (PM) examinations was counted and the required ascarid infections in lions of Mysore Zoo, of which number was processed for identification. Their 86.67% had Toxascaris infection and the remaining locations in hosts and the lesions produced were noted 13.33% had combination of Toxocara and Toxascaris (vide also Section 4). The nematode parasites were infections. Infection with strongyles alone and predominant followed by cestodes and coccidial strongyle with ascarid was reported from BBP, infections in carnivores. In spite of chronic helminthic Bengaluru (Jayagopla Reddy et al., 1992). Three infections, most of the animals did not exhibit any repeated screening of 360 faecal samples collected alarming clinical signs except occasional diarrhoea. from more than 100 lions over a period of one year The results of coprological examinations done by (2003 to 2004) at BBP, 203 samples (56.39%) were various workers showing the number and percentages found positive for ova of Toxascaris leonina . However, of positive samples for helminthic and protozoan the samples collected randomly from these lions one infections are presented host-wise in Table 1 and 2 month after deworming did not reveal any parasitic respectively. eggs (Chandranaik et al ., 2008). Renukaprasad et al. (2011) had recorded catarrhal type of enteritis due T. 3. Tiger ( Panthera Tigris ) leonina at BBP, Bengaluru in lion cubs and parasitic cysts (cysticercus and hydatid) were recovered from 3.1 Coccidia and Helminths liver, lungs and kidneys of tigers at autopsy. The lions The faecal samples from three tiger cubs of of TLS, Shivamogga harboured higher percentage of Mysore Zoo were found positive for oocysts which Toxocara infection, either alone or mixed with were identified as of Isospora felis after sporulation. strongyles and coccidial infections (Ananda et al ., The oocysts were pale brown, ovoid and measured 36- 2012; Ananda, 2015; Ananda et al ., 2016c). 47 x 25-39 µm. Micropyle, oocyst polar granule and residuum were absent. The sporocysts were ellipsoidal 3.3 Leopard/ Panther (Panthera Pardus ) to almost spherical in shape and were colorless. The sporozoites measured 17-23 x 16-20 µm and they were 3.3.1 Helminths sausage-shaped with one end slightly narrower than the Results of earlier surveys on gastrointestinal other. The sporocysts were without Stieda body and the (GI) parasites of leopards of BBP (1981-82), Bengaluru residuum was large and composed of granules. and Mysore Zoo (1990) revealed that they were free Sporulation time was 48 hr (Muraleedharan and from any infection. Coprological examinations of Vasanthi, 1984). Survey conducted on the prevalence samples collected from leopards once in every three of gastro-intestinal parasites of animals of Mysore Zoo months for a period of one year showed high infections revealed that Toxocara, Toxascaris , Ancylostoma and of Toxascaris leonina and Ancylostoma sp., either coccidia were the common infections of tigers single or some with combinations (Chandranaik et al ., (Muraleedharan et al ., 1990). At BBP, Bengaluru, 2005). The recent reports from TLS, Shivamogga Jayagopla Reddy et al . (1992) recorded strongyles and indicated higher percentage of Toxocara and coccidia while Renukapasad et al . (2011) noticed Spirometra as well as Taenia and Spirometra infections coccidial oocysts in faecal sample examinations. Based in leopards (Ananda, 2015; Ananda et al . 2012; on PM examinations, T. leonina infection causing Ananda et al. , 2016c). catarrhal type of enteritis causing death in tiger cubs and the common presence of cysticercus and hydatid in 3.3.2 Coccidia liver, lungs and kidneys of tigers were reported A panther cub from the hilly area of Anekal, (Renukapasad et al ., 2011). Recently Ananda (2015) Bengaluru (rural) district was brought to the Veterinary and Ananda et al. (2012, 2014a, 2014b, 2015; 2016a; College Hospital, Bengaluru for treatment with the 2016c) observed ova of Ancylostoma sp., Toxocara sp. , history of digestive disturbances, running down Strongyle spp., Taenia sp. and Spirometra sp. as single condition and frequent scratching of the body. The or mixed infections as well as oocysts of coccidia in faecal samples revealed the ova of Ancylostoma sp. and tigers of TLS, Shivamogga. oocysts of coccidia. The three types of oocysts identified on sporulation were Eimeria hartmanni 3.2 Lion (Panthera Leo ) (8%) , E. novowenyoni (12%) , and a new species – Veterinary Research International | April-June, 2016 | Vol 4 | Issue 2 | Pages 54-62 © 2016 Jakraya Publications (P) Ltd 55 Muraleedharan… Endoparasites of Wildlife (Carnivores) of Karnataka State, India - An overview Table 1: Prevalence of helminth infections in wild carnivores Location Species Proc. Ex. + % Helminths Reference Mysore Zoo, Tigers CE 19 *8 42.10 Toxascaris with Muraleedharan et al. Mysuru (Panthera tigris ) Isospora (3) (1990) 5 26.32 Ancylostoma