Comparative Parasitology

Published by: The Helminthological Society of Washington

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Comparative Parasitology 79(2):288-292. 2012
https://doi.org/10.1654/4543.1

Parasites of the Arabian Oryx (Oryx leucoryx, Pallas, 1777) and Their Prevalence in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
No Access
Osama B. Mohammed
Abdulaziz N. Alagaili
Sawsan A. Omer
Mansour F. Hussein

Author Affiliations

Osama B. Mohammed

KSU Mammals Research Chair, Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia

Author for correspondence:

Abdulaziz N. Alagaili

KSU Mammals Research Chair, Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia

Sawsan A. Omer

Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, University Centre for Women Students, P.O. Box 22452, Riyadh 11495, Saudi Arabia

Mansour F. Hussein

Department of Animal Production, College of Food and Agricultural Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2640, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia

Copyright & Usage

The Helminthological Society of Washington

Abstract

The gastrointestinal and external parasites and their level of infestation in the Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx) were studied at King Khalid Wildlife Research Center (KKWRC) in Thumamah, Riyadh Province, Saudi Arabia. Fecal samples were collected from 36 oryx while they were being handled for routine management at KKWRC; the samples were examined for gastrointestinal parasites. Protozoan oocysts detected in the present study were Eimeria saudiensis (prevalence 63.9%) and Cryptosporidium sp. Strongyle-type nematode eggs were present in 75% of the fecal samples. Nematodirus spathiger eggs (prevalence 55.6%) and Trichuris sp. eggs (prevalence 13.9%) were also recovered from the fecal samples. Additionally, 3 of 44 (6.8%) serum samples tested positive for toxoplasmosis antibodies. Carcasses of 6 oryx that died at the center were necropsied and all were infected with Camelstrongylus mentulatus, Trichostrongylus probolurus, and Nematodirus spathiger, whereas 3 animals were infected with Trichuris cervicaprae at relatively low intensities. Cysticerci of Taenia hydatigena were recovered from 3 of 6 necropsied oryx.


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Cited by

Stephen Chege, Arshad Toosy, Ahmed Sakr, Ahmed Shawki, Sean O'Sullivan, Ana Perez de Vargas, Tatiana Cavero, Amir Islam. (2016) Incidental findings of Cysticercus tenuicollis metacestodes in five oryx species. Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine 6:1, 90-92.
Online publication date: 1-Jan-2016.
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