Cross-sectional study of Eimeria spp. infection in three antelope species (Addax nasomaculatus, Gazella dorcas and Oryx dammah) maintained in the Souss-Massa National Park (Morocco)

Abstract

Eimeria spp. are prevalent specific intestinal protozoa in many host species with a very variable degree of pathogenicity, found worldwide. Wild ruminants are susceptible hosts to such infections; these infections become important especially when held under stressing captivity conditions. We present herein a cross-sectional study to estimate the Eimeria spp. prevalence and abundance in three threatened antelope species, namely Gazella dorcas, Oryx dammah, and Addax nasomaculatus reintroduced to Souss-Massa National Park (Morocco) after they disappeared from their natural North African biotope. A total number of 254 faecal samples (80 from A. nasomaculatus, 81 from O. dammah and 93 from G. dorcas) were collected and analysed by the qualitative flotation and the quantitative McMaster methods. The infection prevalence was 36.25%, 22.58%, and 29.63% for A. nasomaculatus, G. dorcas, and O. dammah, respectively. The average infection abundance values were 21.25 ± 4.7, 136.56 ± 52.4, and 20.37 ± 5.8 for A. nasomaculatus, G. dorcas, and O. dammah, respectively. Among the three studied antelopes, G. dorcas was the species that was shedding the highest amount of oocysts. This study should be completed by morphological and molecular characterisation of different Eimeria parasites in each antelope host species.

Keywords

• abundance
• coccidian infection
• prevalence
• sahelo-saharan antelopes
• threatened species