Parasites of markhor, urial and Chiltan wild goat in Pakistan

Ann Parasitol. 2020;66(1):3-12. doi: 10.17420/ap6601.232.

Abstract

Parasites are transferred between domestic and wild animals, when host animals come in contact with each other, particularly while grazing the same pastures, or when using same water bodies for drinking. Chances of parasite transmission and adaptation are high when hosts are genetically related. Afghan urial (Ovis vignei blanfordi), Suleiman markhor (Capra falconeri jerdoni) and Chiltan wild goat (C. aegagrus chialtanensis) are wild kin of domestic sheep and goats, sharing numerous parasitic diseases with each other. The present study was conducted in 2014–2015, to determine parasitic infections of Suleiman markhor and Afghan urial of Torghar Game Reserve, and the endemic wild goat of Chiltan National Park. For comparison, parasites of domestic small ruminants of these areas were also studied. A total of 11 species of helminth and 20 species of protozoa were recorded. Highly prevalent helminth among wild ruminants were Trichuris spp., Nematodirus spp., Protostrongylus rufescens and Moniezia benedeni, while highly prevalent Eimeria were E. arloingi and E. ninakohlyakimovae in caprines and E. ovinoidalis in urial. Chiltan wild goats were also found infected with Entamoeba spp. A short tabulated review of the helminth and protozoan parasites of wild sheep and goats of Pakistan, India, Iran and Turkey has been presented.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Eukaryota / classification
  • Eukaryota / isolation & purification
  • Goat Diseases* / parasitology
  • Goats / parasitology*
  • Helminthiasis, Animal* / parasitology
  • Helminths / classification
  • Helminths / isolation & purification
  • India
  • Iran
  • Pakistan
  • Parasites* / classification
  • Parasites* / isolation & purification
  • Protozoan Infections, Animal* / parasitology