Epidemiology of Gastrointestinal Parasitism in Blue Wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus), Alpacas (Vicugna pacos ), and Goats (Capra aegagrus hircus) with same Husbandry and Fence Site in Harbin Zoo, China

The objective of current study was to find out the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in blue wildebeest, alpacas, and goats with same husbandry and fence site in Harbin Zoo, China. From August 2015 to August 2016, 507 fecal samples of blue wildebeest (188), alpacas (195) and goats (124) were examined for gastrointestinal parasites by saturated sodium chloride floatation technique. The microscopic analysis, based on the morphology of oocysts, indicates that the present parasites are Capillaria sp. in blue wildebeest; Eimeria christenseni, E. alijevi, Trichuris sp. and one Strongy-type species in goats; Trichuris sp., Nematodirus sp., Moniezia sp., E. macusaniensis, another Eimeria sp. and another Strongy-type (different with goats) in alpacas. It was discovered that the infection rate was 45.74%, 38.97%, and 12.09% in blue wildebeest, alpacas and goats, respectively. The hosts have different dominant parasite and diverse prevalence in different season, temperature, and humidity groups. Host specificity is the main reason for the difference of host fauna among the three ruminants. The data of the study will provide an accumulating knowledge to help preventing and controlling the spread of infectious parasitic diseases in the zoo.