title: A survey of gastrointestinal parasites of alpacas (Vicugna pacos) raised in Japan.
abstract: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in alpacas raised in Japan. From December 2010 to October 2011, 53 alpacas (Vicugna pacos) raised at a farm in the Kanto region, Japan, were examined for gastrointestinal parasites by 3 fecal tests: direct smear, centrifuged flotation and formalin-ether sedimentation. Eggs of Nematodirus sp. were found in 13.2%, Trichuris sp. in 11.3%, Capillaria spp. in 5.7%, strongyle-type in 50.9% and Moniezia sp. in 1.9%. Oocysts of Eimeria punoensis and/or E. alpacae were found in 69.8%, E. lamae in 1.9% and E. macusaniensis in 7.5%. We found that alpacas raised in Japan have gastrointestinal parasitic fauna similar to those in other countries.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Medical Zoology, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Bioresource Sciences, Nihon University, 1866 Kameino, Fujisawa, Kanagawa 252-0880, Japan.
authors.forename: Ayako
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hyuga
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002161:Camelids, New World / Q000469:parasitology*; D005260:Female; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D010270:Parasite Egg Count / Q000662:veterinary; D015995:Prevalence