Mukarati Norman L, Vassilev George D, Tagwireyi Whatmore M, Tavengwa Michael
Faculty of Veterinary Science, Department of Clinical Veterinary Studies, University of Zimbabwe, P.O. Box MP 167, Mt. Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe.
J Zoo Wildl Med. 2013 Sep;44(3):686-93. doi: 10.1638/2012-0273R.1.
A coprological survey was conducted to determine the types, prevalence, and intensity of infection of internal parasites in a population of captive African lions (Panthera leo) at a recreational game park in Zimbabwe. Individual fecal samples were collected on three occasions over a 4-month period from each of 30 lions (55%) out of 55 animals held. The samples were examined using flotation and sedimentation techniques to assess the presence and count of parasite eggs, oocysts, and cysts per gram of feces as well as larvae identification. The overall prevalence of helminth infections was 100% (30/30), and 80% (24/30) of fecal samples also were positive for protozoan parasite forms. Eggs of Ancylostoma spp. were found in the feces of 23 (76.7%) lions, Physaloptera sp. in 14 (46.7%) lions, Toxascaris leonina in 13 (43.3%) lions, Toxocara cati in 12 (40%) lions, and Gnathostoma spinigerum and Toxocara canis in 2 (6.7%) lions. Furthermore, eggs of Cylicospirura subequalis, Gnathostoma spp., Lagochilascaris major, Acanthocephalan and Linguatula spp. as well as larvae of Aelurostrongylus sp. were identified in the feces of one lion. Oocysts of five apicomplexan parasites and cysts of one mastigophoran protozoan parasite were recorded, namely, Cystoisospora leonina in 11 (36.7%) lions' feces, Cystoisospora spp. in 9 (30.0%) lions, Cystoisospora felis in 5 (16.7%) lions; Toxoplasma-like spp. in 5 (16.7 %) lions, and Giardia spp. in 8 (26.7%) lions. The majority of lions (28/30) showed mixed infections with different internal parasites, whereas only two animals had single parasite infections. The intensity of infection was relatively low. Some parasite forms observed and identified, such as Eimeria spp. oocysts, were spurious and probably originated from the prey species for the lions. Among the parasites identified were some of zoonotic importance that have health implications for at-risk personnel and visitors who get into contact with the animals.
在津巴布韦一个休闲野生动物园内，对圈养非洲狮（Panthera leo）群体进行了粪便学调查，以确定体内寄生虫的类型、流行率和感染强度。在4个月的时间里，从55只圈养狮子中的30只（占55%）个体上，分三次采集粪便样本。使用漂浮法和沉淀法对样本进行检查，以评估每克粪便中寄生虫卵、卵囊和包囊的存在及数量，以及幼虫的鉴定。蠕虫感染的总体流行率为100%（30/30），80%（24/30）的粪便样本原生动物寄生虫形态也呈阳性。在23只（76.7%）狮子的粪便中发现了钩口线虫属（Ancylostoma spp.）的卵，14只（46.7%）狮子的粪便中发现了泡翼线虫属（Physaloptera sp.），13只（43.3%）狮子的粪便中发现了狮弓首蛔虫（Toxascaris leonina），12只（40%）狮子的粪便中发现了猫弓首蛔虫（Toxocara cati），2只（6.7%）狮子的粪便中发现了棘颚口线虫（Gnathostoma spinigerum）和犬弓首蛔虫（Toxocara canis）。此外，在一只狮子的粪便中鉴定出了亚等环旋线虫（Cylicospirura subequalis）、颚口线虫属（Gnathostoma spp.）、大型棘唇线虫（Lagochilascaris major）、棘头虫和舌形虫属（Linguatula spp.）的卵以及猫圆线虫属（Aelurostrongylus sp.）的幼虫。记录到了5种顶复门寄生虫的卵囊和1种鞭毛虫原生动物寄生虫的包囊，即11只（36.7%）狮子粪便中的狮等孢球虫（Cystoisospora leonina）、9只（30.0%）狮子粪便中的等孢球虫属（Cystoisospora spp.）、5只（16.7%）狮子粪便中的猫等孢球虫（Cystoisospora felis）；5只（16.7%）狮子粪便中的类弓形虫（Toxoplasma - like spp.），以及8只（26.7%）狮子粪便中的贾第虫属（Giardia spp.）。大多数狮子（28/30）表现为不同体内寄生虫的混合感染，而只有两只动物为单一寄生虫感染。感染强度相对较低。观察和鉴定到的一些寄生虫形态，如艾美耳球虫属（Eimeria spp.）卵囊，是假性感染，可能源于狮子的猎物。在鉴定出的寄生虫中，有一些具有人畜共患病重要性，对与动物接触的高危人员和游客的健康有影响。
