Helminth parasites of the Kafue lechwe antelope (Kobus leche kafuensis): a potential source of infection to domestic animals in the Kafue wetlands of Zambia
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Date
2010
Authors
Muma, J.B.
Phiri, A.M.
Chota, A
Munyeme, M
Sikasunge, C.S.
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Abstract
The Kafue lechwe antelope (Kobus leche kafuensis), a medium-sized, semiaquatic
antelope, grazes extensively on pastures accessed by livestock in and
around Lochinvar and Blue Lagoon national parks in the Kafue wetlands of
Zambia. This interaction has a potential for bi-modal transmission of a wide
range of parasitic helminths between lechwe and domestic ruminants. A survey
was conducted to investigate the status of helminths in the Kafue lechwe during
the 2008 ( July–December) hunting season, involving 65 animals hunted under
special research licences. Worm identification was based on morphological
features using standard identification keys. Eleven different types of helminths
were identified in the animals studied; namely, Oesophagostomum, Bunostomum,
Cooperia, Dictyocaulus, Marshallagia, Stilesia, Setaria, Trichuris, Fasciola, amphistomes
and Schistosoma. Amphistomes (100%) and Oesophagostomum (60.9%) were
the most common while Fasciola (7.8%) and Stilesia (1.6%) were the least of the
identified helminths. There was no evidence that helminths, at intensities
observed, adversely affected the health of the lechwe. The degree of worm
infection was observed to vary between the two study areas, with Blue Lagoon
recording higher infection levels compared to Lochinvar. The host range of many
of the helminths found in the Kafue lechwe is broad and could serve as a
potentially stable source of infection to domestic animals such as goats and
cattle. Therefore, issues concerning livestock management and conservation
may arise.
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Keywords
Domestic ruminants , Parasitic helminths