First report of gastrointestinal parasites in Giraffes (Giraffa Camelopardalis reticulata) in captivity from Guanacaste, Costa Rica

Authors

  • Esteban Palacios Quirós Universidad Nacional Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria Laboratorio de Parasitología, Costa Rica
  • Ana Eugenia Jiménez Rocha Universidad Nacional Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria Laboratorio de Parasitología, Costa Rica
  • Tania Pivovarova Ponderosa Adventure Park Regente veterinaria, Costa Rica

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15359/rcv.36-1.3

Keywords:

giraffe, gastrointestinal parasites, Costa Rica

Abstract

The giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata), is a species of polygástrico ungulado, originating of the African continent whose populations in captivity have increased of exponential way. Parasitic diseases are classified as one of the main causes of mortality in this species. The objective of this work was to determine the species and / or genera of gastrointestinal parasites (PGI) in captive giraffes in Guanacaste, Costa Rica. A total of 37 fecal samples from 10 giraffes from a tourist center were analyzed. The samples were collected from January to May 2017 in four samples, except one of them, born during the study. Sampling was done at the time of defecation. The feces were transported cold at a temperature of ≈4° C, and sent to the Parasitology Laboratory of the School of Veterinary Medicine of the National University. The samples were processed by coprological techniques (Sheather, and sedimentation) to determine the presence of nematode, trematode and cestode eggs; immunological (FasTest® Crypto-Giardia Strip), to detect zoonotic parasites such as Cryptosporidium parvum and Giardia duodenalis; McMaster to determine the parasitic load (eggs per gram of feces = HPG) of the Strongylida group and the coproculture to determine the percentage of infective larvae (L3). 100 % of the giraffes analyzed were positive for PGI, the whole population having parasites of the Strongylida group. The L3 identified corresponded to 100 % Haemonchus spp., 10 % Cooperia spp. and 20 % Strongyloides papillosus. No zoonotic PGI were found. The range of HPG ranged from <50 to 625. The percentage of infective larvae of the Strongylida group identified by stool culture was 100 % (10/10) of Haemonchus spp. and 10 % (1/10) of Cooperia spp. Only one giraffe had mixed infection by Haemonchus and Cooperia. This study represents the first report of the presence of PGI in Costa Rican giraffes, and is the first to identify Cooperia spp. and Strongyloides papillosus worldwide.

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Published

2018-06-11

How to Cite

First report of gastrointestinal parasites in Giraffes (Giraffa Camelopardalis reticulata) in captivity from Guanacaste, Costa Rica. (2018). Ciencias Veterinarias, 36(1), 27-34. https://doi.org/10.15359/rcv.36-1.3

How to Cite

First report of gastrointestinal parasites in Giraffes (Giraffa Camelopardalis reticulata) in captivity from Guanacaste, Costa Rica. (2018). Ciencias Veterinarias, 36(1), 27-34. https://doi.org/10.15359/rcv.36-1.3

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