The Health Assessment of White-rumped Vultures (Gyps bengalensis) from Changa Manga, Lahore: A Case Study

Abstract

Vultures are considered an important indicator of a healthy environment and they play a vital ecological role as scavengers. The current study was designed to estimate the health of the critically endangered Gyps bengalensis in Changa Manga, Lahore using a technique that does not require drawing blood. Fecal matter of seven pairs was examined and analyzed for protozoan or helminth infections. Gross examination involved checking the consistency and color of feces, presence of blood in feces and gross parasites. Procured samples had different colors and consistency but no blood was found in them. Pair 1 was infested with oocytes; however, in pairs5 and 6 only males were infested, while only the female was infested in Pair 7. Pairs 2, 3, and 4 were completely healthy. Gram staining was also performed to assess the presence or absence of bacteria culture in the digestive tract of Gyps bengalensis. All pairs were either gram-positive or gram-negative except Pair 5, which was negative for all Gram staining. The current work introduces a technique to assess the health of vultures without drawing blood samples, a process that disturbs their life cycle. Copyright (c) 2021Mafia Ghafoor, Muhammad Xaaceph Khan, Amera Ramzan, Syed Hassan Abbas

Keywords

• Changa Manga
• Gram staining
• Gyps bengalensis
• parasites