A survey of the parasites of Ural saiga antelopes and Turkmenian kulans of Kazakhstan
Abdybekova A.M. Zhaksylykova A.A. Kushaliyev K.Z. Kidiraliyev E.Z. Kozhayeva A.R. Kuzhebayeva U.Z. Grachev A. Shevtsov A. Budke C.M.
August 2023Australian Society for Parasitology
International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife
2023#21232 - 236 pp.
Saiga antelope and Turkmenian kulans are considered critically endangered and near threatened, respectively, by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Due to these species’ fragile status, it is important to understand the pathogens infecting their remaining populations. A total of 496 faecal samples were collected from Ural saiga antelope in western Kazakhstan during June, September, and November of 2021 and May and August of 2022 and 149 faecal samples were collected from kulans in the Altyn-Emel nature reserve in south-eastern Kazakhstan from June to August of 2021. Additionally, endo- and ecto-parasites were collected from 17 saiga that were found deceased due to natural causes. Nine helminths (3 cestodes, 6 nematodes) and two protozoans were found in Ural saiga antelope. In addition to intestinal parasites, one case of cystic echinococcosis due to Echinococcus granulosus infection and one case of cerebral coenurosis due to Taenia multiceps infection was identified on necropsy. None of the collected ticks (all Hyalomma scupense) were found positive for Theileria annulate (enolase gene) or Babesia spp. (18 S ribosomal RNA gene) via PCR. Three intestinal parasites (Parascaris equorum, Strongylus sp., and Oxyuris equi) were found in kulans. All identified parasites, in both saiga and kulans, are also found in domesticated livestock, suggesting a need for better understanding of how parasites are maintained within and between regional wild and domestic ungulate populations.
Helminths , Kazakhstan , Kulan , Protozoa , Saiga
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Kazakh Research Scientific Veterinary Institute, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Zhangir Khan West Kazakhstan Agrarian-Technical University, Uralsk, Kazakhstan
National Veterinary Reference Center, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Institute of Zoology of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Almaty, Kazakhstan
National Center for Biotechnology, Astana, Kazakhstan
Texas A&M University, School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, College Station, TX, United States
Kazakh Research Scientific Veterinary Institute
Zhangir Khan West Kazakhstan Agrarian-Technical University
National Veterinary Reference Center
Institute of Zoology of the Republic of Kazakhstan
National Center for Biotechnology
Texas A&M University
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