Coprological Survey of Protostrongylid Infections in Antelopes from Souss-Massa National Park (Morocco)

Parasites Detected in Hatay Mountain Gazelles (Gazella gazella)

The current study aimed to detect parasites in Hatay Mountain Gazelles (Gazella gazella), which are categorized as endangered according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The present study was conducted in Hatay Mountain Gazelle Wildlife Development Area, where 40 gazelles inhabited (30 ♀, 10 ♂), 15 of which were over three years old as well-considered adults. Fecal samples were taken from 60 fecal foci immediately after the defecation of the gazelles. Each of the fecal samples was analysed with Benedek sedimentation, Fülleborn flotation and Bearman-Wetzel methods and examined under a light microscope. In addition, Ixodid ticks were collected from an injured gazelle which was brought to Hatay Mustafa Kemal University, Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center, then were identified under the stereomicroscope. Nematodirus spp. (5/60, 8%), Marshallagia spp. (4/60, 7%), Trichostrongylus spp. (3/60, 5%) eggs, Dictiyocaulus filaria larvae (3/60, 5%) and Eimeria spp. oocysts (9/60, 15%) were determined based on the microscopic examination. Ixodid tick samples were identified as Rhipicephalus turanicus (2 ♀, 3 ♂). Thus this is the first report of the existence of parasites in Hatay Mountain Gazelles in Turkey. It is thought that skin and fecal examinations should be performed to prevent parasitic diseases in gazelles.

Gastrointestinal Nematode Infections in Antelopes from Morocco: A Coprological Survey

This study examined the gastrointestinal parasitological status of three endangered Sub-Saharan antelope species (Addax nasomaculatus, Oryx dammah, Gazella dorcas) hosted at Souss-Massa National Park in Morocco. A total of 254 faecal samples (80 samples from the addax population, 81 from the oryx population and 93 from the dorcas population) were analysed to determine the prevalence and the intensity of the parasites in host faeces (expressed as the mean EPG: egg per gram), using microscopic methods (Flotation and McMaster) and the molecular identification of parasites using PCR and sequencing of the second internal transcribed spacer region of the rDNA (ITS-2).

The prevalence results in the addax, oryx and dorcas gazelle were 43.7%, 2.4%, and 61.3%, respectively, for Nematodirus spp.; 21.2%, 12.3%, and 16.13%, respectively, for Trichuris spp.; and 36.2%, 39.5%, and 53.7%, respectively, for other, undistinguished strongylids.

The means of EPG values for parasites in addax, oryx and dorcas gazelle were 8.9, 2.4, and 61.3, respectively, for Nematodirus spp.; 4.3, 2.4, and 4.8, respectively, for Trichuris spp.; and 18.1, 16.6, and 50.1, respectively, for other undistinguished strongylids. Sequencing of the ITS-2 rDNA region of the isolated parasites allowed the identification of Camelostrongylus mentulatus and Nematodirus spathiger in these three antelope species. We can conclude that the studied antelopes are infected at tolerating levels with the first record of Camelostrongylus mentulatus and Nematodirus spathiger in those antelopes in Morocco.