Potential consequences of captivity and environmental pollution in endoparasitic prevalence in different antelopes kept at wildlife parks

Endoparasites are the potential source of substantial health complications in animals; exclusively the endoparasites of zoonotic importance are of great concern to researchers and health authorities for diverse perspectives. A coprological study was conducted to inspect the endoparasitic infestation in antelopes kept at three captive localities, i.e., Safari Park, Jallo Wildlife Park, and Lahore Zoo, situated in Lahore, Pakistan. There were 109 selected species of antelopes including nilgai ( Boselaphus tragocamelus ), blackbuck ( Antilope cervicapra ), urial ( Ovis orientalis ), and chinkara ( Gazella bennettii ). The fresh fecal samples of each experimental animal from individual and mixed animal enclosures were collected and tested by an appropriate parasitological method. The fecal samples were examined by applying the modified McMaster technique through the Whitlock chamber method and observed by a compound microscope for identification and fecal egg count. The prevalence (%) of egg per gram (EPG) and diversity of endoparasitic eggs identified from fecal samples of experimental animals from three captive localities were recorded. The analysis revealed species from phylogenetic groups of nematodes cestodes and trematodes along with coccidian occurrence. The prevalence of endoparasites was highest in nilgai ( B . tragocamelus ) with combined average prevalence (23.88 ± 3.13) from three captive localities followed by chinkara ( G . bennettii ) combined average prevalence (21.68 ± 2.64), urial ( O . orientalis ) combined average prevalence (21.41 ± 4.69), and blackbuck ( A . cervicapra ) combined average prevalence (16.88 ± 2.66). To prevent such infestations which prevail more intensely regarding changing climate and increasing pollution levels, there should be regular monitoring and appropriate prophylaxis combined with epizootiological investigation for future studies and implication of advance technology, for captive animals so that best possible adaptations can be made to reduce the spread of infective diseases that are of zoonotic importance also.