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Alpine chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra rupicapra) is autochthonous game species in Croatia, inhabiting mountain areas of Gorski Kotar, Velebit, Dinara and Biokovo, sharing its habitat partly with Balkan chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra balcanica). Since the health status of chamois in Croatia was rarely investigated, the aim of this study was to analyse gastrointestinal parasitic fauna. Complete digestive system of 20 chamois from Gorski Kotar and Velebit region in Croatia were collected. Faeces was analysed using standard coprological examination (ZnSO4 flotation technique) while content of the intestine was washed through two sieves with different mesh size and collected parasites were morphologically identified. Intestine analysis revealed presence of 9 parasite species, including Oesophagostomum venulosum (P=45%), Trichuris ovis (P=35%), Haemonchus contortus (P=20%), Chabertia ovina (P=10%), Moniezia sp. (P=10%), Ostertagia sp. (P=5%), Cooperia sp. (P=5%) and Nematodirus helvetianus (P=5%). On the outer surface of forestomaches in 25% of animals we have detected Cysticercus tenuicollis, a developmental stage of Taenia hydatigena. Coprology revealed four parasite species including Eimeria sp. oocysts (P=50%), Nematodirus helvetianus (P=33.3%), Capillaria sp. and Trichuris ovis (P=5.6%, each). Beside them coprology also revealed the presence of strongylid eggs (38.9%) and lungworm larvae (P=66.7%). Obtained results indicated intestine examination as more reliable technique, however, as certain parasites were detected only by coprological analysis, and in order to achieve more accurate prevalence data we suggest combination of both methods. Our results are comparable with studies on Alpine chamois from Italy. Detection of Cysticercus tenuicollis requires further studies to reveal the origin of Taenia hydatigena eggs in the chamois environment. |
