title: Prevalence of parasitic infection in captive wild animals in Bir Moti Bagh mini zoo (Deer Park), Patiala, Punjab.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study was conducted to know the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites of captive wild animals at Bir Moti Bagh Mini Zoo (Deer Park), Patiala, Punjab.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 31 fecal samples from eight species of captive animals including Civet cat (Viverra zibetha), Porcupine (Hystrix indica), Nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus), Spotted deer (Axis axis), Black buck (Antelope cervicapra), Sambar deer (Cervus unicolor), Hog deer (Axis porcinus), and Barking deer (Muntiacus muntjak) were screened using classical parasitological techniques including sedimentation and floatation technique.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 31 fecal samples examined, 20 were positive for parasitic ova/oocysts of different species indicating an overall prevalence of 68.0%. The six different types of parasites observed in the study included strongyle (67%), Strongyloides spp. (14%), coccidia (38%), Trichuris spp. (19%), ascarid (10%), and Capillaria spp. (10%). Strongyles were the most common parasites observed (67%) followed by coccidia (38%). Mixed helminth and protozoan infection were observed in 48% of animals. No cestode or trematodes were detected during the study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The high prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites without overt clinical signs of disease or mortality as observed in this study is suggestive of subclinical infection. The findings will help in formulating the appropriate deworming protocol for parasitic control in these captive animals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana - 141 004, Punjab, India.
authors.forename: A Q
authors.initials: AQ
authors.lastname: Mir
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana - 141 004, Punjab, India.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dua
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Parasitology, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana - 141 004, Punjab, India.
authors.forename: L D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Singla
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana - 141 004, Punjab, India.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: Mahendra Choudhury Zoological Park, Chhatbir, Punjab, India.
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Singh
keywords: Punjab; captive wild animals; carnivores; parasitic infection; rodent; ungulates