Comparative study of gastrointestinal parasites from captive and wild olive baboon (<i>Papio anubis</i>)

Abstract

This study compared the gastrointestinal parasites of captive and wild Olive Baboon (Papio anubis). A total of 15 and 50 fresh faecal samples were collected in both Federal College of Wildlife Management Mini Zoo and Kainji Lake National Park (Borgu Sector). The study covered a period of 5 months (January to May, 2018), the faecal sample were taken to the laboratory for examination using floatation method to determine the prevalence of gastro-intestinal parasites. Out of 65 samples collected, 51(78.46%) were infected with one or more gastrointestinal parasite. The highest prevalence was recorded amongst Baboons in captivity (100%). All the parasites encountered in the different samples were nematodes for both captivity and wild Olive baboons. Parasite ova recovered in captive Baboons are Trichuris trichuria, Ascaris lumbricoides and Haemonchus contortus while that of the wild includes Hookworm spp, A. lumbricoides and Strongyle stercolaris. The study advocates periodic monitoring of the health status of the animals in order to reduce the high prevalence of parasites observed.

Keywords: Comparative; olive baboon; gastrointestinal parasites; wild; captive.