Gastrointestinal parasites of the wild ungulates (Mammalia: Cetartiodactyla) in the Hemis National Park, Ladakh, India

Abstract

Abstract Gastrointestinal parasitic infection is known to affect the health and population dynamics of wild ungulates. We evaluated the gastrointestinal parasitic prevalence and intensity of wild ungulates in the Hemis National Park of Ladakh by examining their fresh faecal samples. A total of 327 fresh faecal samples from three wild ungulates, blue sheep Pseudois nayaur (n = 127), Ladakh urial Ovis vignei vignei (n = 110) and Himalayan ibex Ibex siberica (n = 90) were collected between June 2021 and May 2022. The floatation and sedimentation techniques were employed for detection of parasitic eggs/oocysts. Out of 327 samples examined, 165 samples were infected with gastrointestinal parasites making an overall prevalence of (50.45%). During the present study seven parasitic genera were reported. Blue sheep was infected with Eimeria spp. (20.47%), Nematodirus spp. (8.66%), Strongyloides spp. (7.87%) and Moniezia spp. (6.29%). Ladakh urial was infected with Eimeria spp. (17.27%), Trichuris sp. (10.90%), Haemonchus sp. (5.45%) and Moniezia spp. (6.36%). Himalayan ibex was infected with Eimeria spp. (18.88%), Nematodirus spp. (8.88%) and Trichostrongylus spp. (5.55%). Out of 327 faecal samples examined, 36 samples (11%) were infected with mixed parasites. The highest prevalence was recorded in summer (64.42%) and the lowest in winter (33.82%). A significant difference in the parasitic prevalence was observed across seasons in each of the three wild ungulate hosts. However, there was no significant difference in the prevalence of parasites across these hosts.