Strongylosis in captive elephants - a report

摘要

Strongylosis assumes a greater significance in captive elephants especially when the worm burden increases which is reflected by rise in egg count during coprological examination (Soulsby, 1982). In the present report, strongylosis was encountered ina group of elephants maintained in a private circus in Chennai. Subsequent information on the occurrence of loose motion in four elephants reared privately for show purposes, the faecal samples were collected and coprological examination (epg) was carried out using Mc Master chambet at this Institute for the evidence of possible helminthic parasitic infection, if any. Subsequently, larval cultures were carried out, the larvae were identified by following the keys of Vanderwesthuysen (1938). All were treated with Fenbendazole at the dose rate of 5 mg per Kg body weight.