Prevalence and diversity of Gastro-intestinal parasites in captive wild animals in Northern Nigeria

Copro-parasitological survey of 217 captive wild animals belonging to 17 orders from northern Nigeria was conducted. Faecal samples were collected from the wild animals in zoological gardens in four states and analysed using the flotation and simple sedimentation techniques. Overall, parasite eggs or cysts were detected in 47% (n=102) of the animals examined. High parasite prevalence, 80%, 75%, 71%, 60 % and 50% were recorded for members of the orders Testudines, Perissodactyla, Artiodactyla, Primates and Rodentia respectively. Multiple infections involving two or three parasite taxa were recorded in some of the captive wild animals examined with a significant association (p<0.05) between the animals and nematode eggs, Taenia eggs and Eimeria oocysts. Others helminth species such as Ascaris, Hookworm, Enterobius, Entamoeba, Trichuris and Strongyloides were also detected. This calls for caution as the wild animals may serve as source of infection to attendants and visitors to the zoos