Gastrointestinal Helminths of Oryx dammah (Cretzschmar, 1826) and Gazella dorcas (Linnaeus, 1788) in Special Wildlife Reserve of Gueumbeul (Senegal)

Abstract

In Senegal, within the context of safeguarding threatened wildlife species, the Special Wildlife Reserve of Gueumbeul was chosen to host the first populations of Gazella dorcas and Oryx dammah in the 1980s and 1990s. However, their survival depends on close monitoring of their health status, an aspect that is poorly documented in Senegal. The objective of this study was to contribute to improving knowledge about helminth in antelopes raised in this reserve. To this end, fecal samples were collected during the dry and wet seasons and subjected to microscopic examination to detect helminth eggs and larvae. Prevalence rates of 75% and 68.6% were observed in the Oryx dammah and Gazella dorcas , respectively ( χ 2 = 0.21, p-value = 0.64, p > 0.05). A higher infestation rate of 100% was observed during the rainy season. Nematodes were more prevalent, accounting for 98% of cases, compared to trematodes and cestodes. Strongyles were also more prevalent, at 85%. The identified parasitic species were Oesophagostomum spp . (13.5%), Trichurius spp . (7%), Strongyloides spp . (4%), Nematodirus spp . (3%), Haemoncus spp . (2.2%), Trichostrongylus spp (1%), Toxocara spp . (2%), Dic roc oelium spp . (1%), and Moniesia spp . (1%). Polyparasitism, involving at least two nematode species, was observed in 86.8% of cases. Oryx dammah exhibited a higher level of egg shedding compared to Gazella dorcas , with mean OPG values of 3700 and 370, respectively. Despite the methodological limitations encountered, high infestation rates, a diversity of parasitic species, and a higher parasitic load were observed in Oryx than in Gazelles.