Fatal peste des petits ruminants disease in Chowsingha.

This communication reports fatal Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) disease in Chowsingha (Tetracerus quadricornis), a member of the subfamily Bovinae and family Bovidae captured in a Zoological Park. The animals showed clinical signs of acute respiratory disease with frothy nasal discharge (1-2 days) and mortality of twenty animals (80%) within 48 hr. Necropsy of dead Chowsingha showed haemorrhagic patches in trachea and severe congestion of lungs and ocular mucosa. There was no characteristic lesion in the intestine. Swabs from trachea and nasal tract along with tissue samples of spleen and lung from dead animals were found positive for PPR virus based on reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction using H gene and partial N gene-specific primers. Sequence analysis of complete H gene and partial N gene confirmed the aetiological agent as PPR virus lineage IV. The identity of the Chowsingha tissues used for PPRV isolation was confirmed by the 12S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing, and the amplified gene was analysed identically to the Chowsingha mitochondrial 12S ribosomal RNA gene. The present information of PPR in Chowsingha is the first report of PPRV lineage IV causing cross-species fatal disease in subfamily bovinae and family Bovidae. The acute manifestation of the disease indicates high susceptibility of this vulnerable wild bovid species to PPR lineage IV. This report extends host range and demands enhanced surveillance among subfamily bovinae to strengthen PPR eradication programme.

Prevalence of Amblyomma gervaisi ticks on captive snakes in Tamil Nadu.

Ticks are the important ectoparasites that occur on snakes and transmit rickettsiosis, anaplasmosis and ehrlichiosis. A total of 62 snakes (Reticulated python, Indian Rock Python, Rat snakes and Spectacled cobra) were examined for tick infestation at Chennai Snake Park Trust (Guindy), Arignar Anna Zoological Park (Vandalur) and Rescue centre (Velachery) in Tamil Nadu from September, 2015 to June, 2016. Ticks from infested snakes were collected and were identified as Amblyomma gervaisi (previously known as Aponomma gervaisi). Overall occurrence of tick infestation on snakes was 66.13%. Highest prevalence of tick infestation was observed more on Reticulated Python (Python reticulatus, 90.91%) followed by Indian Rock Python (Python molurus, 88.89%), Spectacled cobra (Naja naja, 33.33%) and Rat snake (Ptyas mucosa, 21.05%). Highest prevalence of ticks were observed on snakes reared at Chennai Snake Park Trust, Guindy (83.33%), followed by Arignar Anna Zoological Park, Vandalur (60.00%) and low level prevalence of 37.50% on snakes at Rescue centre, Velachery. Among the system of management, the prevalence of ticks were more on captive snakes (70.37%) than the free ranging snakes (37.5%). The presences of ticks were more on the first quarter when compared to other three quarters and were highly significant (P ≤ 0.01).

A study on the tolerance level of farmers toward human-wildlife conflict in the forest buffer zones of Tamil Nadu.

AIM: The aim of this work was to study the tolerance level of farmers toward different human-wildlife conflict (HWC) situations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted in 24 villages of nine blocks from Kancheepuram, Coimbatore, Erode, and Krishnagiri districts of Tamil Nadu by personally interviewing 240 farmers affected with four different HWC situations such as human-elephant conflict (HEC), human-wild pig conflict (HPC), human-gaur conflict (HGC), and human-monkey conflict (HMC). A scale developed for this purpose was used to find out the tolerance level of the farmers. RESULTS: In general, the majority (61.70%) of the farmers had medium level of tolerance toward HWC, whereas 25.40% and 12.90% belonged to a high and low category, respectively. The mean tolerance level of the farmer's encountering HMC is low (8.77) among the other three wild animal conflicts. In tackling HWC, the majority (55.00%) of the HEC farmers drove the elephant once it entered into their farmland. In the HPC, more than three-fourths of the respondents drove away the wild pig once they were found in farmlands. With regard to the HMC, a less number of them (1.70%) drove the monkey away if monkeys were spotted in their village. With regard to HGC, 95.00% of the respondents frightened the gaurs if their family members were threatened by gaurs. CONCLUSION: The present study suggests that that majority of the farmers had medium level of tolerance toward HWC. The tolerance level of the HMC farmers was lower than other three HWC affected farmers. This study emphasizes the need for necessary training to tackle the problem in an effective manner for wild animal conservation.

Endoparasitic infections in free-ranging Asiatic elephants of Mudumalai and Anamalai Wildlife Sanctuary.

Free-ranging Asiatic elephants dung samples from various forest divisions of Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary (MWLS) and Anamalai Wildlife Sanctuary (AWLS) were examined for identification of endoparasitic infection. The dung samples revealed 100 % endoparasitic infection, with a high prevalence of Strongyles (64 %) in MWLS and Anoplocephala sp. (46 %) in AWLS. Similarly, from the same samples egg per gram of feces was done to ascertain the individual parasitic load. The present research paper communicates the high parasitic prevalence of free-ranging Asian elephants in dry seasons of (February-June 2010) MWLS and AWLS.

Occurrence of Camallanus trispinosus in a captive Indian star tortoise (Geochelone elegans).

Camallanoids are spirurid round worms known to occur in stomach and intestine of lower vertebrate animals such as fishes and reptiles. This paper records the occurrence of Camallanus trispinosus in a captive Indian star tortoise of Guindy snake park, Chennai, India for the first time during necropsy and identified on the basis of morphology of male and female worms, including eggs.

Endoparasites in cattle nearby tribal areas of free-ranging protected areas of Tamil Nadu state.

Fresh dung samples from cattle nearby and tribal areas of free-ranging regions, Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, Anamalai Tiger Reserve and forest divisions of Sathyamangalam-Erode of Tamil Nadu state were examined for identification of endoparasitic infection. A total of 50 dung samples were collected and examination of samples revealed the presence of eggs of Strongyle, Strongyloides sp., amphistomes, Toxocara sp. and oocysts of Eimeria sp. The risk of parasitic disease transmission from domestic livestock to wild populations was discussed.

Kalicephalus sp. in a captive Russell's viper: a case report.

The occurrence of Kalicephalus sp. of hookworms in a Russell's viper snake maintained in Chennai snake park trust, Chennai is reported. These worms were found in the stomach and intestine. They were cylindrical, thread like and had an elongate body. Anterior end was obliquely truncated with bivalvular buccal capsule. Short, thick and muscularised oesophagus ending in a rounded bulb was observed. In males, a well developed trilobed bursa was observed and the spicules were short and equal. Typical strongyle type eggs were found in the uterus of female worms as well as in the intestinal contents.

Chemical Immobilization of Sloth Bears (Melursus ursinus) with Ketamine Hydrochloride and Xylazine Hydrochloride: Hematology and Serum Biochemical Values.

The present study was conducted to define the physiological responses of captive sloth bears immobilized with ketamine hydrochloride and xylazine hydrochloride and to determine and compare the values of hematology and serum biochemical parameters between sexes. A total of 15 sloth bears were immobilized using combination of ketamine hydrochloride and xylazine hydrochloride drugs at the dose rate of 5.0 milligram (mg) per kg body weight and 2.0 mg per kg body weight, respectively. The use of combination of these drugs was found satisfactory for the chemical immobilization of captive sloth bears. There were no significant differences observed in induction time and recovery time and physiological parameters such as heart rate, respiratory rate, and rectal temperature between sexes. Health related parameters comprising hematological values like packed cell volume (PCV), hemoglobin (Hb), red blood cell count (RBC), erythrocyte indices, and so forth and biochemical values like total protein, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, alkaline amino-transferase (ALT), aspartate amino-transferase (AST), and so forth were estimated in 11 (5 males and 6 females) apparently healthy bears. Comparison between sexes revealed significant difference in PCV (P < 0.05) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) (P < 0.05). The study might help to evaluate health profiles of sloth bears for appropriate line treatment.