Faecal parasites in captive felids and canids at the Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Center and their zoonotic implications

Abstract

It is of the utmost significance that animals housed in zoos and other captive facilities maintain good health for the sake of their protection and welfare. Zoo veterinarians routinely conduct health checks on individuals that appear to be in good health in order to identify issues that require treatment. This is necessary due to the fact that many wild species do not typically exhibit any signs of illness. The benefits of these "elective" health checks need to be weighed against the risks of stress or injury, as well as the cost of the examination. The objective of this study was to determine faecal parasites felids and canids at UWEC-zoo and determine their temporal trend from 2005-2021. This was a retrospective study utilising recorded feline (lions, cheetah, leopards, caracal) and canine (hyaena, black backed jackal) faecal sample data from 2005-20201. The total number of samples collected from all animals was, on the whole, unsatisfactory; however, there was a discernible upward trend in the collections beginning in 2005. From the total sample collections, the highest positive samples were seen in 2014, 2016, and 2018 in lions, but reduced in 2020 and 2021. Amoeba, Ascaris spp., Ancylostoma spp., Isospora spp., Oesophagostomum, Strongyles, Taenia spp., and Toxocara spp. were recorded in both felids and canids, with Toxocara spp. being the most frequently encountered, particularly in the lions. The erratic sample collection and diagnosis that has taken place at UWEC over the course of the years does not provide a clear picture of the occurrence of parasites or the ultimate impact that they have on the animals' welfare.