Does the presence of livestock in protected areas pose a risk of gastrointestinal parasite transmission to wild ungulates? A study from Bani Wildlife Sanctuary, Western Himalayas
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.11105166Keywords:
Pathogens, prevalence, Threats, wildlife, cross-transmissionAbstract
The burgeoning population of livestock within protected areas exacerbates the transmission risk of parasitic diseases among vulnerable wild ungulates. This study, conducted in the Bani Wildlife Sanctuary nestled in the western Himalayas, focused on the peak periods of livestock grazing (June-October) in 2021 and 2022 to assess the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in domestic sheep and goats. A comprehensive examination involved the collection of 230 faecal samples (125 from goats and 105 from sheep) from various locations within the sanctuary, followed by analysis using established sedimentation and floatation techniques. Our findings revealed the presence of 10 distinct parasite taxa, encompassing one coccidian cyst, one cestode, two trematodes, and six nematodes. Comparative analysis with documented parasites infecting wild ungulates underscores the considerable potential for cross-transmission via the faecal-oral route. Notably, the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasite taxa stood at 83.72% in goats and 74.35% in sheep, indicating their heightened susceptibility and potential contribution to pasture infectivity, surpassing that of wild ungulates. These findings suggest a significantly elevated risk of gastrointestinal parasitic transmission from domestic animals to their wild counterparts. Consistent with comparable studies, evidence suggests a correlation between parasite infection in livestock and sympatric wild ungulates, suggesting the perpetuation of these infections within the shared ecosystem. To mitigate this risk, we advocate for the regulation of anthelmintic treatment for domestic livestock and the implementation of grazing zonation strategies to curtail parasite transmission.
References
AbdulKarim, A.T., Hatem, A. N., & Al-Mayah, S. H. (2023). A retrospective study of tick fauna of Iraq–checklist. Scientific Reports in Life Sciences, 4(2), 35–44. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8277712
Achhami, B., Sharma, H. P., & Bam, A. B. (2016). Gastrointestinal parasites of Musk Deer (Moschus Chryso-Gaster Hodgson, 1839) in Langtang National Park, Nepal. Journal of Institute of science and Technology, 21(1), 71-75.
Adhikari, J. N., Adhikari, R. B., Bhattarai, B. P., Thapa, T. B., & Ghimire, T. R. (2021). A small-scale coprological survey of the endoparasites in the Himalayan goral Naemorhedus goral (Hardwick, 1825) in Nepal. Biodiversitas Journal of Biological Diversity, 22(3). https://doi.org/10.13057/biodiv/d220326
Altizer, S., Nunn, C. L., Thrall, P. H., Gittleman, J. L., Antonovics, J., Cunningham, A. A., ... & Pulliam, J. R. (2003). Social organization and parasite risk in mammals: integrating theory and empirical studies. Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics, 34(1), 517-547. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.ecolsys.34.030102.151725
Archie, E. A., & Ezenwa, V. O. (2011). Population genetic structure and history of a generalist parasite infecting multiple sympatric host species. International journal for parasitology, 41(1), 89-98. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpara.2010.07.014
Baker, D.,G. (2007). Flynn’s parasitology of laboratory animals. Ames: Blackwell Publishing Company. 134.
Barber, I., & Dingemanse, N. J. (2010). Parasitism and the evolutionary ecology of animal personality. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 365(1560), 4077-4088. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2010.0182
Bhat, R. A., Tak, H., Bhat, B. A., Dar, J. A., & Ahmad, R. (2022). Gastrointestinal helminth parasites of wild ungulates in Hirpora Wildlife Sanctuary, Kashmir, India. Journal of Parasitic Diseases, 46(3), 804-810.
Bhatnagar, Y.V., Seth C.M., Sharma S.C., Sharma K.K., Gupta, M., & Singh, P. (2007). Preliminary Assessment of the Himalayan Tahr (Hemitragus jemlahicus) in Sarthal-Bani Area of Jammu & Kashmir. Interim Report by State Forest Research Institute, J&K and Nature Conservation Foundation-ISLT, Mysore.
Bora, D. P., Ahmed, J., Tadap, S., Pariat, A. O., Mech, P., Panda, S. P., ... & Barman, N. N. (2021). Evidence of transmission of goatpox between domestic goats and wild Himalayan goral (Naemorhedus goral) in Arunachal Pradesh, India. The Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 57(2), 439-442. https://doi.org/10.7589/JWD-D-20-00075
Brooks, D. R., & Hoberg, E. P. (2007). How will global climate change affect parasite–host assemblages?. Trends in parasitology, 23(12), 571-574.
Chartier, C., & Paraud, C. (2012). Coccidiosis due to Eimeria in sheep and goats, a review. Small Ruminant Research, 103(1), 84-92. doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres.2011.10.022
Cleaveland, S., Laurenson, M. K., & Taylor, L. H. (2001). Diseases of humans and their domestic mammals: pathogen characteristics, host range and the risk of emergence. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B: Biological Sciences, 356(1411), 991-999. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2001.0889
Coles, G. C., Bauer, C., Borgsteede, F. H. M., Geerts, S., Klei, T. R., Taylor, M. A., & Waller, P. J. (1992). World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology (WAAVP) methods for the detection of anthelmintic resistance in nematodes of veterinary importance. Veterinary parasitology, 44(1-2), 35-44.
Daszak, P., Cunningham, A. A., & Hyatt, A. D. (2000). Emerging infectious diseases of wildlife--threats to biodiversity and human health. science, 287(5452),443-449.doi: 10.1126/science.287.5452.443
de Gruijter, J. M., Ziem, J., Verweij, J. J., Polderman, A. M., & Gasser, R. B. (2004). Genetic substructuring within Oesophagostomum bifurcum (Nematoda) from human and non-human primates from Ghana based on random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 71(2), 227-233.
Delahay, R. J., Smith, G. C., & Hutchings, M. R. (2009). Management of disease in wild mammals (pp. 1-8). Tokyo, Japan: Springer.
Dobson, A. (1995). The ecology and epidemiology of rinderpest virus in Serengeti and Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Serengeti II: Dynamics, management, and conservation of an ecosystem, 485-505.
Dobson, A., & Foufopoulos, J. (2001). Emerging infectious pathogens of wildlife. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B: Biological Sciences, 356(1411), 1001-1012.
Dunn, A. (1978). Veterinary helminthology, William Heinemann. London, United Kingdom.
Ezenwa, V. O. (2003). Habitat overlap and gastrointestinal parasitism in sympatric African bovids. Parasitology, 126(4), 379-388.
Foreyt, W.,J. (2001). Veterinary parasitology reference manual. John Wiley & Sons
Foufopoulos, J., Altizer, S., & Dobson, A. (2002). Interactions between wildlife and domestic livestock in the tropics. Tropical Agroecosystems, 219-244.
Geladi, I., Ryan, R., Khanyari, M. (2017). MID-TERM REPORT: 18997-1.
Ginsberg, J. R., Mace, G. M., & Albon, S. (1995). Local extinction in a small and declining population: wild dogs in the Serengeti. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B: Biological Sciences, 262(1364), 221-228.
Gottdenker, N. L., Streicker, D. G., Faust, C. L., & Carroll, C. R. (2014). Anthropogenic land use change and infectious diseases: a review of the evidence. EcoHealth, 11, 619-632. . https://doi.org/10.1007/s10393-014-0941
Irvine, R. J., Corbishley, H., Pilkington, J. G., & Albon, S. D. (2006). Low-level parasitic worm burdens may reduce body condition in free-ranging red deer (Cervus elaphus). Parasitology, 133(4), 465-475. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0031182006000606
Kaur, S., Singla, L. D., Sandhu, B. S., Bal, M. S., & Kaur, P. (2019). Coccidiosis in goats: pathological observations on intestinal developmental stages and anticoccidial efficacy of amprolim. Indian Journal of Animal Research, 53(2), 245-249.
Khanyari, M., Suryawanshi, K. R., Milner-Gulland, E. J., Dickinson, E., Khara, A., Rana, R. S., ... & Morgan, E. R. (2021). Predicting parasite dynamics in mixed-use Trans-Himalayan pastures to underpin management of cross-transmission between livestock and bharal. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 8, 714241. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2021.714241
Lafferty, K. D. (2003). Is disease increasing or decreasing, and does it impact or maintain biodiversity. Journal of Parasitology, 89(Suppl), S101-S105.
Loukopoulos, P., Komnenou, A., Papadopoulos, E., & Psychas, V. (2007). Lethal Ozolaimus megatyphlon infection in a green iguana (Iguana iguana rhinolopa). Journal of zoo and wildlife medicine, 38(1), 131-134.
Morgan, E. R., Lundervold, M., Medley, G. F., Shaikenov, B. S., Torgerson, P. R., & Milner-Gulland, E. J. (2006). Assessing risks of disease transmission between wildlife and livestock: the Saiga antelope as a case study. Biological Conservation, 131(2), 244-254. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2006.04.012
Nunn, C. L., Thrall, P. H., Leendertz, F. H., & Boesch, C. (2011). The spread of fecally transmitted parasites in socially-structured populations. PloS one, 6(6), e21677. . https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0021677
Obanda, V., Maingi, N., Muchemi, G., Ng’ang’a, C. J., Angelone, S., & Archie, E. A. (2019). Infection dynamics of gastrointestinal helminths in sympatric non-human primates, livestock and wild ruminants in Kenya. PloS one, 14(6), e0217929. .https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0217929
Ocaido, M., Siefert, L., & Baranga, J. (2004). Helminth risks associated with mixed game and livestock interactions in and around Lake Mburo National Park, Uganda. African Journal of Ecology, 42(1), 42-49. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0141-6707.2004.00484
Osofsky, S.,A. (2005) Conservation and Development Interventions at the Wildlife/livestock Interface: Implications for Wildlife, Livestock and Human Health: Proceedings of the Southern and East African Experts Panel on Designing Successful Conservation and Development Interventions at the Wildlife/Livestock Interface: Implications for Wildlife, Livestock and Human Health, AHEAD (Animal Health for the Environment And Development) Forum, IUCN Vth World Parks Congress, Durban, South Africa, 14th and 15th September 2003. IUCN; 2005.
Pedersen, A. B., & Fenton, A. (2007). Emphasizing the ecology in parasite community ecology. Trends in ecology & evolution, 22(3), 133-139.
Petney, T. N., & Andrews, R. H. (1998). Multiparasite communities in animals and humans: frequency, structure and pathogenic significance. International journal for parasitology, 28(3), 377-393. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0020-7519(97)00189-6
Poole, J. B. (1956). Reaction to temperature by infective larvae of Nematodirus filicollis, Trichostrongylidae (Nematoda). Canadian journal of comparative medicine and veterinary science, 20(5), 169.
Quyoom, I., Bhat, B. A., Najar, Z. H., & Tanveer, S. (2023). Winter diet composition of Himalayan serow Capricornis sumatraensis thar in Bani Wildlife Sanctuary: implications for the conservation of Quercus semecarpifolia forest. Biologia, 1-9. . https://doi.org/10.1007/s11756-023-01575-4
Randall, D. A., Williams, S. D., Kuzmin, I. V., Rupprecht, C. E., Tallents, L. A., Tefera, Z., ... & Laurenson, M. K. (2004). Rabies in endangered Ethiopian wolves. Emerging infectious diseases, 10(12), 2214.
Singh, D., & Sharma, N. (2023). Elevational pattern, structure, and regeneration status of woody taxa along a semi-disturbed timberline ecotone in northwestern Himalayas. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 43(5), 785-797. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chnaes.2022.10.007
Sharma, H. P., & Achhami, B. (2022). Gastro‐intestinal parasites of sympatric red panda and livestock in protected areas of Nepal. Veterinary Medicine and Science, 8(2), 568-577. https://doi.org/10.1002/vms3.651
Smith, K. F., Acevedo‐Whitehouse, K., & Pedersen, A. B. (2009). The role of infectious diseases in biological conservation. Animal conservation, 12(1), 1-12.
Smith, P. H., Wiles, S. E., Malone, J. B., Monahan, C. M., & Baker, D. G. (2007). Flynn's parasites of laboratory animals
Baker, D., G. (2008). Flynn's parasites of laboratory animals. John Wiley & Sons
Soulsby, E. J. L. (1968). Helminths, arthropods and protozoa of domesticated animals. Helminths, arthropods and protozoa of domesticated animals.
Stien, A., Irvine, R. J., Ropstad, E., Halvorsen, O., Langvatn, R., & Albon, S. D. (2002). The impact of gastrointestinal nematodes on wild reindeer: Experimental and cross‐sectional studies. Journal of Animal Ecology, 71(6), 937-945. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2656.2002.00659
Taylor, M., A., Coop, R. L., & Wall, R. L. (2015). Veterinary parasitology. John Wiley & Sons
Thapa, C., & Maharjan, M. (2015). Parasitic burden in high altitude wild ruminants: Himalayan Tahr (Hemitragus jemlahicus Smith, 1826) and Barking Deer (Muntiacus vaginalis Boddaert, 1785) of Rara National Park, Nepal. Nepal Journal of Environmental Science, 3, 1-6.
Thorne, E. T., & Williams, E. S. (1988). Disease and endangered species: the black‐footed ferret as a recent example. Conservation biology, 2(1), 66-74. . https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-1739.1988.tb00336
Tompkins, D. M., Dunn, A. M., Smith, M. J., & Telfer, S. (2011). Wildlife diseases: from individuals to ecosystems. Journal of Animal Ecology, 80(1), 19-38. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2656.2010.01742
VanderWaal, K., Omondi, G. P., & Obanda, V. (2014). Mixed-host aggregations and helminth parasite sharing in an East African wildlife–livestock system. Veterinary Parasitology, 205(1-2), 224-232.
Walker, J. G., & Morgan, E. R. (2014). Generalists at the interface: nematode transmission between wild and domestic ungulates. International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife, 3(3), 242-250. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijppaw.2014.08.001
Zajac, A. M. (2006). Gastrointestinal nematodes of small ruminants: life cycle, anthelmintics, and diagnosis. Veterinary Clinics: Food Animal Practice, 22(3), 529-541. . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cvfa.2006.07.006
Zajac, A. M., & Conboy, G. A. (2012). Fecal examination for the diagnosis of parasitism. Veterinary Clinical Parasitology, 8, 72-73
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2022 Journal of Wildlife and Biodiversity
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
JWB applies the 