Endoparasites in wild populations of Cyprus mouflon (Ovis gmelini ophion).

The Cyprus mouflon (Ovis gmelini ophion) is a subspecies of wild sheep, endemic to Cyprus and strictly protected by national and international legislation. In the present study, 107 Cyprus mouflon faecal samples were collected from locations within the species geographical range and examined by standard parasitological methods, i.e. flotation, sedimentation and Ziehl-Neelsen stained smears. Parasites were found in 104 (97.39%) samples. First stage larvae of the lungworms Muellerius capillaris and Cystocaulus ocreatus were found in 93 (86.9%) and in 65 (60.7%) of the samples, respectively, strongylid eggs in 46 (43%), Eimeria spp. oocysts in 44 (41.1%) and Nematodirus spp. Trichuris spp. and Moniezia spp. eggs in 10 (9.3%), 7 (6.5%) and 1 (0.9%) sample, respectively. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first survey on the endoparasites of Cyprus mouflon. The possible role of the parasites found on the health status of the animals and the risk of endoparasite transmission from domestic ruminants to Cyprus mouflon are discussed.