Seasonal Occurrence of Gastrointestinal Parasites in Horse (Equus Ferus Caballus) From Dhaka City Bangladesh

The study was conducted to understand the occurrence of gastrointestinal parasites in horse during June, 2017 to April, 2018 from Bangladesh National Zoo, Puran Dhaka and Rajarbagh Police Line of Dhaka city. A total of 48 faecal samples were collected from horses and examined by Direct Smearing technique and Formol Ether Concentration technique. Out of 48 samples 47 found positive for gastrointestinal parasitic infection with an overall prevalence of 97.92 %. Highest prevalence was identified (77.1 %) in Parascaris equorum, followed by 70.8 % in Hymenolepis nana, 62.5 % in Isospora sp., 50 % in Ancylostoma duodenale, 39.6 % in Toxocara sp., 35.4 % in Entamoeba sp., 25 % in Trichuris sp., 20.8 % in Fasciola hepatica 16.67 % in Capillaria sp., 8.3 % in Taenia sp. and Opisthorchis sinensis, 4.2 % in Moniezia benedeni and Thysaniezia sp. Highest intensity (72.97± 46.32) was found for Isospora sp. The p value was 0.01, p < 0.05 so the prevalence rate was statistically significant.A significant difference was founded in prevalence between male and female horse where females were highly infected and also seasonal variation showed significant differences. Highest prevalence was recorded in winter and Rainy season (100 %) followed by summer (95 %). The intensity of parasites was highest in rainy season (63.38 ±79.94) followed by summer (55.47 ±29.73) and winter (49.5 ±28.58) Bangladesh J. Zool. 49 (2): 301-319, 2021

Amarakaeri: Connecting Biodiversity | Conectando la Biodiversidad

<p><b><i>This digital monograph is made available by the publisher. Print copies are available for purchase through our distributor, Penguin Random House and on Amazon.com</i></b></p> <p><em><b> </b></em></p><p>Highlighting the enormous biodiversity of the Amarakaeri Communal Reserve (ACR) and the critical role this protected area plays in the conservation of Madre de Dios, in southeastern Peru, with more than 1,700 vivid photographs, <i>Amarakaeri: Connecting Biodiversity</i> offers readers a glimpse into the extensive research conducted by scholars from the Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute and their Peruvian counterparts. For three years, scientists and local experts had the extraordinary opportunity to collect data at the premontane forests of the ACR to determine potential impacts of an exploratory gas platform on selected animal and plant groups. <i>Amarakaeri</i> also portrays the main threats to the ACR and presents a vision for the region’s future.</p><p>Destacando la enorme biodiversidad de la Reserva Comunal de Amarakaeri (RCA) y el papel crítico que esta área protegida juega en la conservación de Madre de Dios, en el sureste de Perú, <i>Amarakaeri: Conectando la Biodiversidad</i> ofrece a los lectores una mirada rápida a la extensa investigación realizada por académicos del Smithsonian National Zoo y del Conservation Biology Institute junto con sus homólogos peruanos. Durante tres años, los científicos y expertos locales tuvieron la extraordinaria oportunidad de compilar datos en los bosques premontanos de la RCA para determinar los posibles impactos de una plataforma exploratoria de gas en grupos seleccionados de animales y plantas. <i>Amarakaeri</i> además retrata las principales amenazas a la reserva y presenta una visión para el futuro de la región.<br></p><div></div>

Operating Conditioning in Bennett Ualabies (Macropus Rufogriseus) Ex Situ for Drugs Administration by Oral Route

The objective of this study was the oral administration of trimetoprim sulfamethoxazole as a prophylactic therapy in Bennett’s Wallabies (Macropus Rufogriseus) through the use of operant conditioning. In the study participated 15 animals of different gender and age, all of them living at “La Aurora” National Zoo in Guatemala City, Guatemala. The investigation was divided in 2 stages, first the desensitization and conditioning of the animals and second the oral administration of the drug. Results indicated that 76% of the population had a positive response to the desensitization and conditioning, however only 20% consumed the 100% of the dose. In conclusion the operant conditioning is an excellent tool for desensitizing and creating a routine with zoo animals, but further investigation is required to determine the efficiency of the administration of an oral treatment on this species.

The intertwined history of non-human primate health and human medicine at the Smithsonian's national Zoo and conservation Biology Institute

In April 2020, the Bronx Zoo made a headline-grabbing announcement: one of their tigers tested positive for COVID-19, a striking example of zoos as microcosms of human health and medicine. Indeed, many diseases and health problems experienced by zoo animals are found in, and frequently linked to, humans. Furthermore, the veterinary care they receive often incorporates knowledge, tools and treatments used in human health care. Here, we analyse these developments across the history of non-human primate health at the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZP), one of the oldest zoos in the United States. From NZP's opening in 1891, we distinguish five historical time periods within its first century based on how animal health was described, treated and understood. Concentrating on descriptions of primates in annual Smithsonian reports, we see notable changes in NZP activities focused on housing and environment (1889–1900), disease diagnosis and prevention (1901–1916), human–animal connections (1917–1940), research and collaboration (1941–1973) and conservation (1974–1989). We relate these shifts to concurrent medical events and trends in the United States, and interpret NZP's history in a broader scientific and societal context leading to a ‘One Health’ approach to animal care and welfare today.

Toxoplasma gondii among captive wild mammals in zoos in Brazil and Cuba: seroprevalence and associated risk factors

Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic parasite of worldwide distribution that can infect several species of homeothermic animals. Few studies have evaluated the exposure of captive wild animals to T. gondii. This study involved a serological survey of anti-T. gondii antibodies in mammals kept in Cuba’s National Zoo (PZN) and in the Rio de Janeiro Zoo (RIOZOO) in Brazil. The study consisted of a total of 231 serum samples from mammals, 108 from PZN and 123 from RIOZOO. All the samples were subjected to IgG anti-T. gondii testing by means of the inhibition ELISA method and the modified agglutination test, respectively. T. gondii antibodies were detected in 85.2% samples from PZN and 32.5% samples from RIOZOO. At the PZN, Perissodactyla (92.3%) was the order with the highest serological prevalence rate, whereas at the RIOZOO, the order Primates (46.7%) stood out (p<0.05). In addition to this association, the origin of the PZN animals was also associated with T. gondii infection. This finding demonstrates the need for constant veterinary monitoring of captive wild mammals in order to link the serological diagnosis with clinical alterations indicative of toxoplasmosis.

Museums in the Pandemic

Throughout human history, the spread of disease has closed borders, restricted civic movement, and fueled fear of the unknown; yet at the same time, it has helped build cultural resilience. On 11 March 2020 the World Health Organization (WHO) classified COVID-19 as a pandemic. The novel zoonotic disease, first reported to the WHO in December 2019, was no longer restricted to Wuhan or to China, as the highly contagious coronavirus had spread to more than 60 countries. The public health message to citizens everywhere was to save lives by staying home; the economic fallout stemming from this sudden rupture of services and the impact on people’s well-being was mindboggling. Around the globe museums, galleries, and popular world heritage sites closed (Associated Press 2020). The Smithsonian Magazine reported that all 19 institutes, including the National Zoo and the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI), would be closed to the public on 14 March (Daher 2020). On the same day, New Zealand’s borders closed, and the tourism industry, so reliant on international visitors, choked. Museums previously deemed safe havens of society and culture became petri dishes to avoid; local museums first removed toys from their cafés and children’s spaces, then the museum doors closed and staff worked from home. In some cases, front-of-the-house staff were redeployed to support back-of-the-house staff with cataloguing and digitization projects. You could smell fear everywhere.

Gastrointestinal Parasites of Captive Asiatic Black Bear in Three Zoological Parks of Bangladesh

Forty-two freshly defecated fecal samples from captive Asiatic Black Bear (Ursus thibetanus) were collected between May 2017 and April 2018 from Bangladesh National Zoo, Dhaka, Shaheed A.H.M. Central Park and Zoo, Rajshahi and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Safari Park, Gazipur. The collected samples were processed by Formol-ether concentration technique. Altogether nine different gastrointestinal (GI) parasites were observed and identified, which include one protozoan, Coccidia spp. (42.86%); four cestodes, Hymenolepis spp. (42.86%), Diphyllobothrium spp. (28.57%), Spirometra spp. (14.29%) and Taenia spp. (21.43%); and four nematodes Ascaris spp. (57.14%), Toxocara spp. (21.43%), Trichuris spp. (21.43%) and hookworms (35.71%). No trematode parasite was found during the study period. Dominance of helminth parasites (71.43%) over protozoan parasites was observed. The male bears were found more susceptible to parasitic infection than the females. The intensity of infection was found erratic in young and adult bears. The species diversity, animals feeding behavior and hygiene maintenance may be responsible for the high prevalence rate of gastrointestinal parasites in the present study. Bangladesh J. Zool. 48(1): 119-125, 2020

Diversity and Distribution of Macro Fungi in Some Selected Parks and Gardens of Dhaka City, Bangladesh

A survey was conducted during June to November, 2017 in five selected parks and gardens of Dhaka city, Bangladesh namely National Botanical Garden, National Zoo, Romna Park, Dhanmondi Lake and Boldha Garden. The investigation was done to analyze the morphology, diversity and distribution of macro fungi A total of 44 macro fungi samples were collected and identified to 32 species under 18 genera and 18 families. The most frequent collected genera were Ganoderma sp., Daedeleopsis sp., Ramariopsis sp., Crepidotus sp. and Daldinia sp. The maximum frequency of identified species was exhibited by Ganoderma lucidum (9.46%), followed by Ganoderma applanatum (8.1%), Volvariella volvacea (5.41%), Agaricus bisporus (5.41%) Daedaleopsis confragosa (4.05%), Trametes versicolor (4.05%) and Ganoderma boninense (4.05%). The maximum density of occurrence among collected samples was exhibited by Ramariopsis kunzei (11.3%), Ganoderma lucidum (9.9%), Crepidotus variabilis (5.3%) and Daedaleopsis confragosa (3.76%). The predominant species found in National Botanical Garden is Ganoderma applanatum, in Ramna Park is Ganoderma lucidum, in Dhanmondi Lake is Ramariopsis kunzei, in Boldha Garden is Ganoderma lucidum and in National zoo is Amanita bisporigera. The collected specimens were deposited to the Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University Herbarium of Macro Fungi (SHMF).