Epidemiology of ascariasis in Felidae at Edinburgh Zoological Park

Abstract

Between January and July 1978 captive Felidae at Edinburgh Zoo were examined using routine helminthological techniques and 16 out of 19 were found to be infected with ascarids. T. leonina was the predominant ascarid of the cheetahs, lions, pumas and tigers whereas T. cati was predominant in the Scottish wild cats. Soil, vegetation and rock washing samples examined from the animal enclosures showed a significant level of contamination with ascarid eggs. Isoenzyme analysis of T. leonina using the enzyme glucose phosphate isomerase showed that specimens from cheetah, lion, puma and domestic cat were identical but differed from a single specimen from the domestic dog.

Treatment of the Felidae with piperazine salts was generally -unsatisfactory and flamegun treatment of a rock enclosure produced disappointing results. A soil experiment using T, leonina eggs from a tiger and a puma showed that egg development was slow before April but thereafter was more rapid. Results are discussed in relation to the epidemiology of the infection and suggestions are made for future control.