BIOLOGIA (PAKISTAN) 2014, 60 (2), 211-218
PKISSN 0006 – 3096 (Print)
ISSN 2313 – 206X (On-Line)
Prevalence of Endoparasites in African Lion – Panthera leo
*ABDUL QAYYUM KHAN SULEHRIA1, GULNAZ MOQEEM1, YASSER SALEEM MUSTAFA2,
3
ZAHID SHARIF MIRZA & SUMERA MUSHTAQ
1
1
Department of Zoology, GC University, Lahore, Pakistan
Provincial Diagnostic Laboratory, Cooper Road, Lahore, Pakistan
3
Fisheries Research & Training Institute, Manawan, Batapur, Lahore, Pakistan
2
ABSTRACT
The incidence of endoparasites in African lion, Panthera leo, present in Lahore Zoo and Lahore Safari Park has
been investigated. The study was conducted from January, 2012 to July, 2012 during which 147 fecal samples
were collected from 21 African lions, including male, female and cubs, divided into three groups on the basis of
age. The prevalence of cestodes was 33.3% in females while prevalence of nematodes was 33.3% and 66.7% in
males and females, respectively. Trematodes were not found in any lion. It was recorded that prevalence of
endoparasites was greater in female lions (38.9%) as compared to male lions (28.5%).
Key words: Lion, Endoparasite, Cestode, Nematode, Trematode
INTRODUCTION
Zoological gardens exhibit wild animals for
aesthetic,
educational,
recreational
and
conservation purposes (Varadharajan & Pythal,
1999).
The African lion (Panthera leo) is a big cat
that belongs to genus Panthera (Nowak, 1999). Wild
lions are found in Sub-Saharan Africa and in Asia
while endangered species of lions are present in Gir
Forest National park in India.
Captive animals are more likely to contract
diseases because animals live in close proximity to
each other. When animals are housed together from
different geographical areas or there are plans to reintroduce animals into wild environment, they have
more opportunities to transfer parasites (Viggers et
al., 1993).
Wild animals carry a variety of parasites in
their free living stage but they do not cause disease
unless under stress (Gaur et al., 1979). Parasites
with direct lifecycle and host range are the greatest
threat for the animals (Fowler & Miller, 1999).
Diseases that are caused by parasites
comprise one of the major problems resulting in
even morbidity and mortality in these animals while
in captivity (Rao & Acharjyo, 1984) the effects range
from sub-clinical to death.
Collectively, helminths are the most
prevalent and taxonomically diverse group of
parasites in both wild and captive animals
*Corresponding author: [email protected]
(Pedersen et al., 2005). The major groups of these
metazoan parasites include the Platyhelminthes,
Nematoda and Acanthocephala. Life cycles of
helminth parasites are extremely complicated with
different hosts for different developmental stages or
simple with only a single host (Schneider & Tenter,
2006).
Zoo animals under captivity are prone to
almost all types of diseases. So these parasitic
diseases, especially helminthic infection, are major
problem of zoo animals (Varadharajan &
Kandasamy, 2000).
Zoo animals harbour a large number of
parasites. These parasites affect animal health and
cause mortality, morbidity or both (Deshmukh et al.,
2009). Under captivity the health status of zoo
animals varies with different factors e.g.,
management, feeding, environment, sanitation and
close association of animals and seasonal variation
affect the health of animals (Kashid et al., 2003).
This project was designed to study the incidence of
endoparasites in the African lion in the Lahore Zoo,
Lahore and Lahore Safari Park.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Experimental Animals and Study Area
The present study was conducted on the
African lion (Panthera leo) during January, 2012 to
July, 2012. The samples were collected from 21
lions including male, female and cubs kept under
captivity at Lahore Zoo located at 90-Shahra-e-
212
A. Q. K. SULEHRIA ET AL
Quaid-e-Azam and Lahore Safari Park at Raiwind
Road, Lahore. In the Lahore Zoo, lions in captivity
were kept in indoor enclosures with wired fence.
While in Lahore Safari Park, lions were provided
with semi-natural environment such as man-made
hills, hideouts and dens. They were kept in outdoor
vicinity with dense vegetation consisting of trees,
bushes and grass.
BIOLOGIA (PAKISTAN)
The age of the African lion was determined
by studying eruption sequence of deciduous and
permanent teeth of both jaws and the wear of
permanent teeth (Smuts et al., 1978). Lions were
divided into 3 groups depending upon their age e.g.,
Group A (≤1 Year), Group B (1-9 years) and Group
C (10-20 years) (Table I).
Table I: Age-wise population of Lion (Panthera leo)
at Lahore Zoo and Lahore Safari Park
Sr.
Number of lions
Age groups of lions
No.
1.
n 1=7
Group A
Group B
Group C
≤ 1 Year
1 - 9 Years
10-20 Years
(23.8%)
(47.6%)
(28.5%)
M
F
M
F
M
F
-
-
3
0
1
3
(14.2%)
(42.9%)
(42.9%)
2.
3.
n 2 =14
N =21
3
2
4
3
1
1
(21.4%)
(14.2%)
(28.5%)
(21.5%)
(7.14%)
(7.14%)
3
2
7
3
2
4
(14.3%)
(9.5%)
(33.4%)
(14.2%)
(9.5%)
(19.1)
n 1 = Total number of lions present in Lahore Zoo, Lahore.
n 2 = Total number of lions present in Lahore Safari Park, Lahore
N = Total number of lions present in Lahore Zoo and Lahore Safari Park, Lahore.
M = Male; F = Female
The total number of lions present in Lahore
Zoo and Lahore Safari Park were 21 out of which 7
(33.3%) lions were present in Lahore Zoo and 14
(66.7%) lions were present in Lahore Safari Park.
There were 4 (57.1%) male lions and 3 (42.9%)
female lions in Lahore Zoo but no cub was
observed. In Lahore Safari Park 5(35.8%) male
lions, 4(28.9%) female lions, 3(21.4%) male cubs
and 2(14.2%) female cubs were present.
Sample Collection
In total, 147 faecal samples were collected.
The scats were collected by using standardized
collection protocol. Each sample was sealed in
plastic zip lock bags. The bags were labelled with
name of lion, sex, age, date, time of collection and
locality. The samples were carried in ice box.
Sample Processing in Laboratory
The samples were taken to the Provincial
Diagnostic Laboratory, Livestock and Dairy
Development, 16-Cooper Road, Lahore. The
processing of samples and detection of parasites
were done there. In order to preserve, faecal
samples were transferred to sterile vials containing
30ml of 10% formalin. The detection and
quantification of parasites were done by using
Sedimentation-Floatation
Concentration
(Zinc
Sulphate) method described by Ezenwa, 2003 and
Sedimentation Technique by Monson-Bhar & Bell
(1982).
PREVALENCE OF ENDOPARASITES IN AFRICAN LION – PANTHERA LEO
VOL. 60 (2)
213
RESULTS
Identification of Parasites
Parasites were identified by studying the
morphology and size of the eggs (Fig., 1) as
described by Soulsby (1982) and Sloss et al.
(1994).
Fig., 1: Ova of Taenia sp., and Toxocara sp.
Statistical Analysis
The data collected was analyzed
applying Percentage (Steel & Torrie, 1997).
by
The present study revealed that cestodes
and nematodes were the most prevalent helminths
found in lions.
In Lahore Zoo, no lion was found positive
for cestode, in Group A and B, however, 1 (33.3%)
female lion was found positive for cestode infection
in Group C. It was recorded that in Group B, the
prevalence of nematodes among male lions of
Lahore Zoo was 33.3% as 1 out of 3 lions was
infected with nematode. While no female lion,
present in this group, was found positive for
nematode. In Group C, out of three 2(66.7%) female
lions were found positive for nematode infection. No
male lion was found having nematode infection in
this group. No lion, in any group, was found positive
for trematodes in Lahore Zoo. In Lahore Zoo, only
1(33.3%) female lion in Group C was carrying mixed
infection while lions present in all other groups were
found
negative
for
mixed
infection
(cestode+nematode) (Table II).
Table II: Prevalence of endoparasites in Lions of Lahore Zoo
Sr.
No.
1.
Age
Groups
and
Number
of lions
Group A
(≤1 year)
Prevalence of
Cestodes
(Taenia sp.)
Prevalence of
Nematodes
(Toxocara sp.)
M
F
M
-
-
-
1
1
(33.3%)
(33.3%)
F
-
Prevalence of
Trematodes
Prevalence of
Mixed infection
(Cestode+Nematode)
M
F
M
F
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
M=0; F=0
2.
Group B
(1-9
years)
-
-
M=3; F=0
3.
Group C
(10-20
years)
-
-
-
2
(66.7%)
1
(33.3%)
M=1; F=3
M = Male; F = Female
In Lahore Safari Park, no lion was found
infected with cestode in Group A. In Group B only
1(25%) male lion was found positive while all
females were negative for cestodes. In Group C
214
A. Q. K. SULEHRIA ET AL
1(100%) female lion was found positive for cestode
infection. Prevalence of nematodes among the lions
of Lahore Safari Park was high. In Group A only
1(50%) female lion was found positive for
nematode. In Group B, 1(25%) male lion was found
positive for nematodes while no female was found
having nematodes. In Group C, 1(100%) male and
1(100%) female were found positive for nematodes.
BIOLOGIA (PAKISTAN)
All lions present in Lahore Safari Park were found
negative for trematodes. In Lahore Safari Park, all
lions present in Group A were found negative for
mixed infection (cestode+nematode). In Group B,
1(25%) male lions were found positive for mixed
infection while in Group C only 1(100%) female lion
was
found
having
mixed
infection
(cestode+nematode) (Table III).
Table III: Prevalence of endoparasites in Lions of Lahore Safari Park
Sr.
No.
1.
Age
Groups
and
Number
of lions
Group A
(≤1 year)
Prevalence of
Cestodes
(Taenia sp.)
M
F
-
-
Prevalence of
Nematodes
(Toxocara sp.)
M
1
-
M=3; F=2
2.
Group B
(1-9
years)
1
(25%)
F
(50%)
1
-
-
(25%)
Prevalence of
Trematodes
Prevalence of
Mixed infection
(Cestode+Nematode)
M
F
M
F
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1
-
(25%)
M=4; F=3
3.
Group C
(10-20
years)
-
1
1
1
(100%)
(100%)
(100%)
-
1
(100%)
M=1; F=1
M = Male; F = Female
Table IV: Prevalence of endoparasites in Lions in Lahore Zoo and Lahore Safari Park
Sr
No.
Locality
Total
No. of
Lions
Prevalence
of Cestodes
(Taenia sp.)
Prevalence of
Nematodes
(Toxocara
sp.)
Prevalence of
Trematodes
Prevalence
of Mixed
infection
Total
prevalence of
endoparasites
1.
Lahore
Zoo
7
1
(14.28%)
3
(42.8%)
-
1
(14.28%)
5
(71.4%)
2.
Lahore
Safari Park
14
2
(14.28%)
4
(28.5%)
-
2
(14.2%)
8
(57.1%)
3.
Total
21
3
(14.28%)
7
(33.3%)
-
3
(14.28%)
13
(61.9%)
Among cestodes only Taenia sp., was
observed. Similarly, among nematode only
Toxocara sp., was found. It was recorded that
prevalence of cestodes (Taenia sp.) was 1(14.28%),
prevalence of nematodes (Toxocara sp.) was
PREVALENCE OF ENDOPARASITES IN AFRICAN LION – PANTHERA LEO
VOL. 60 (2)
3(42.8%) and prevalence of mixed infection was
1(14.28%) among the lions of Lahore Zoo. In
Lahore Safari Park prevalence of cestodes (Taenia
sp.) was recorded as 2(14.2%), prevalence of
nematodes (Toxocara sp.) was 4(21.5%) and
prevalence of mixed infection was 2(14.28%).
215
Overall prevelance was: cestodes (Taenia sp.)
14.28%, nematodes (Toxocara sp.) 33.3% and
mixed infection 14.28% prevalent (Table IV).
It was recorded that prevalence of
endoparasites was greater in female lions (38.9%)
as compared to male lions (28.5%) (Table V).
Table V: Comparison of prevalence of endoparasites in male
and female lions in Lahore Zoo and Lahore Safari Park
Sr.
No.
Locality
Total
No. of
Lions
Prevalence of
endoparasites in
male lions
Prevalence of
endoparasites in
female lions
Total prevalence of
endoparasites
1.
Lahore Zoo
7
1
4
5
(14.28%)
(57.1%)
(71.4%)
4
4
8
(28.5%)
(28.5%)
(57.1%)
5
8
13
(23.8%)
(38.09%)
(61.9%)
2.
3.
Lahore Safari
Park
14
Total
21
DISCUSSION
In Pakistan more than 100 African lions are
present in the captivity. They are in Zoological
gardens, in the wildlife sanctuaries and in the
personal zoos but no wild lion have been reported in
Pakistan. A group exercise led by WCS and the
IUCN SSC Cat Specialist Group estimated that 42%
of major Lion populations were declining (Bauer,
2008). The rate of decline is most unlikely to have
been as high as 90%, as reported in a series of
news reports in 2003 (Kirby 2003, Frank & Parker
2003).
The present study was conducted to assess
the prevalence of helminths (endoparasites) among
lions. In general, endoparasites (i.e., parasitic
species usually reproduce by transmitting free living
infective stages that pass from one host to another
host) aggregate across their host population. Most
individuals harbour low number of parasites but a
few individuals become victim to high parasitic
infection (Shaw & Dobson, 1995). Such
heterogeneity is developed due to the variation
between the individuals in their exposure to infective
stages and difference in their susceptibility (Wilson
et al., 2002).
Prevalence of endoparasites in female lions
(38.9%) was found to be greater as compared to
male lions (23.8%) which contradicted the findings
of Ravindran et al. (2006) who stated that male and
female lions equally suffered from the endoparasite
infection but agreed with the study of Smith & KOK
(2006) who reported highest number of parasites in
female lions.
Lions present in Lahore Zoo showed high
prevalence of endoparasites as compared to Lahore
Safari Park because in Lahore Safari Park, lions
were kept in an environment closer to their natural
habitat and thus may have developed resistance
against endoparasites. The similar result was
published by Atanaskova et al. (2011) which
showed that prevalence of endoparasites in Skopje
Zoological Gardens was fairly high during 20072009 that was 21.4%, 32.1% and 28.6% in the
years 2007, 2008, 2009 respectively. In captivity,
lions are less resistant to endoparasites than in their
natural habitats because they are provided with less
varied food (Goossens et al., 2005). Furthermore,
lions were caged in close proximity to each other
which increased the prevalence of endoparasites in
Lahore Zoo.
216
A. Q. K. SULEHRIA ET AL
All of the helminth parasites are found to be
transmitted through environment, transplacemental
transmission or through the feed given to the
animals. In Lahore Zoo and Lahore Safari Park,
lions are fed beef which can be intermediate host for
many helminthic infections. The similar findings
were made by Smith & KOK (2006) who described
that helminths have the herbivore as intermediate
host that may play important role in the transmission
of parasites to lion. Likewise, Chakraborty &
Goswami (2001) also concluded that high incidence
of helminths in wild animals was due to the close
association of these animals in captivity.
Cubs present in Lahore Safari Park had
less parasitic infection. Only 20% cubs were found
positive for nematodes which might be due to the
fact that more care and attention are given to cubs
for better livability and growth which indirectly helps
to prevent the invasion of infected stages of
parasites. Modi et al. (1997) and Varadharajan &
Subramanian (2003) reported similar findings.
The old aged lions, both in the Lahore Zoo
and Lahore Safari Park, had more parasitic burden.
Smith & KOK (2006) opined that older male lions
were infested with endoparasites because of their
feeding habit. In the present study, it was found that
both; in Lahore Zoo and Lahore Safari Park, only
very few young lions (1-9 years) were carrying
endoparasites. Smith & KOK (2006) reported similar
findings in their study that the younger male lions
had least number of eggs and parasitic infection.
The resistance in young lions against endoparasites
could be as a result of their heavy feeding, as
observed by Smith & KOK (2006) that a younger
male lion consumed the largest amount of feed that
was 50 Kg. He kept eating for 4 hrs and 22 min, so
he had physiological resources to resist against
endoparasites.
In captive lions prevalence of nematodes
was (33.3%) that was quite high as compared to
cestode infection. Among nematodes only Toxocara
sp., was found in the faecal samples of lions at
Lahore Zoo & Lahore Safari Park. Deshmukh et al.,
(2009) reported that prevalence of Toxocara sp.,
was 13.3% in wild animals in captivity. Varadharajan
& Kandasamy (2000) reported that out of 3 lions 2
were found having Toxocara sp. The result is in
BIOLOGIA (PAKISTAN)
accordance with Ravindran et al., (2006) who
mentioned that out of 17 lions 12 were carrying
Toxocara sp., as an endoparasite. Hase et al.,
(2007) reported toxocara infection in an 18 years old
lion belonging to Siddharth Municipal Council
Zoological Garden which was suffering from
dullness, depressed appetite, epiphora and loose
faeces. In Safari Park a cub was found having loose
faeces in which Toxocara sp., was observed and
this cub died later on.
Vincent & Francis (2007) reported a very
high number of lions suffering from Toxocara canis
and Toxocara cati. They described that 66.6% lions
were infected from Toxocara sp. at animal
orphanage in Kenya, Boomker et al., (1997)
reported Toxocara cati and T. canis as most
prevalent endoparasites of lions. Bjork et al. (2000)
reported absence of Toxocara sp., from free ranging
wild lions. Muller-Graf (1995) reported that the
prevalence of Toxocara sp. in wild animals was very
low (4.5%). He found that only 5 individuals out of
112 were carrying Toxocara sp.
It was calculated that the total prevalence of
cestode parasite in Lahore Zoo and Lahore Safari
Park was 14.28% e.g., 3 out of 21 lions were
positive for cestodes. Among cestodes only Taenia
sp. was found. Cestodes are more prevalent
endoparasites of wild animals but some reports
have been found from captivity. Ogungbade &
Ogunrinade (1984) reported taeniid (Taenia
hydatigena) in Panthera leo in captivity. A large
variety of Taenia sp., is highly prevalent among
carnivores. All the Taenia sp., use ruminants as an
intermediate host. When these ruminants are eaten
by lions, this parasite is transmitted to lion (Boomker
et al., 1997). Kashid et al. (2003) reported Taenia
taeniaeformis in wild captive animals. Bjork et al.
(2000) reported eggs of Taenia sp. from free
ranging wild lions of Northern Tanzania and
observed that Taenia infection was most prevalent
among lions. In the coprological survey of African
wild lions Muller-Graf (1995) reported that taeniid
eggs had the second highest prevalence among
lions.
No trematode was found in lion of any age
group in the present work. It is found only in freeranging wild lions (Muller-Graf et al., 1999; Bjork et
al., 2000).
VOL. 60 (2)
PREVALENCE OF ENDOPARASITES IN AFRICAN LION – PANTHERA LEO
According
to
International
Union
Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
(IUCN) African lion (Panthera leo) is an endangered
species so its health management and monitoring
are necessary. The present work will provide
baseline data for safeguarding and management
plans of endangered African lions.
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