Investigation of gastrointestinal parasites of wild herbivores in Chongqing Safari Park and treatment efficacy of Guang Zhong San and anthelmintic drugs

Item

Title

Description

Am J Trad Chin Vet Med (2018),Min Pang;Juan Liu;Yifu Wang;Qiumin Ren;Xin Gou

Journal Publication

American Journal of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine

issn

1945-7693

Date

2018

Language

English

Author(s)

Min Pang

Juan Liu

Yifu Wang

Xin Gou

Qiumin Ren

Subject

Parasites

Chinese Herbal Medicine

Anthelmintics

Abstract

A study was conducted in Chongqing Safari Park located in southwest China to investigate the gastrointestinal parasites of wild herbivores in the park. A total of 75 fecal samples were collected from 16 species of wild herbivores which included giraffe, zebra, hartebeest, wildebeest, blesbok, greater kudu, oryx, springbok, sika deer, red deer, sambar deer, Bactrian camel, hippopotamus, rhinoceros, mountain sheep/argali and alpaca. Out of the 16 species examined, 12 species (72%) had at least 1 parasite and 5 species (31%) had multiple parasites. Some of the infections were widespread reaching 100% of fecal samples such as roundworms in giraffe, zebras, hartebeest and greater kudu. In addition to the parasite survey of type and intensity of parasite infection of the wild herbivores, an experimental arm of the study divided 30 hartebeests into 6 groups of 5 animals each. The animals in each group were either untreated controls, or Chinese herbal medicine only, or 1 of 3 anthelmintic drugs only, or anthelmintic drug plus Chinese herbal medicine. McMaster’s test for eggs per gram of feces was run both before dosing (EPG 1) and after dosing (EPG 2) with test compounds. The group with a combination of anthelmintic and Chinese herbal medicine had the most effective parasite control with a 98.08% parasite reduction. This study provided needed information on gastrointestinal parasitism in wild herbivores in southwest China and also laid the foundation for innovative treatment of parasitic infections by using a traditional Chinese herbal medicine combined with a commonly used anthelmintic.