PREVALENCE AND CHEMOTHERAPY OF HELMINTH PARASITES IN CAPTIVE CERVID AT VARIOUS CAPTIVE WILDLIFE FACILITIES OF PAKISTAN

Abstract

Gastrointestinal helminths (GI helminths) pose a significant threat to deer, impacting their health, performance, and productivity. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of GI helminths in deer within the Pakistan region and to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of albendazole and ivermectin against GI helminths. A total of 100 fecal samples were collected from various wildlife parks in Punjab and Islamabad, Pakistan. Helminth ova and egg counts were determined using direct smear, sedimentation, flotation, and McMaster techniques. The overall prevalence of GI helminths was 38%, with cestodes, nematodes, trematodes, and mixed infections observed. For the chemotherapeutic trials, infected deer were divided into two treatment groups, A and B, with 10 deer in each group. Group A received albendazole at 7.5 mg/kg body weight, and Group B received ivermectin at 0.2 mg/kg body weight, both administered orally. Fecal samples were collected on days 0 (pre-treatment), 7, 14, and 21 (post-treatment). Ivermectin proved to be more effective than albendazole, resulting in a significantly greater reduction in helminth egg counts (P<0.05).