Evaluating the Incidence of Spirometra Species and Other Gastrointestinal Helminths in Wild Lions (Panthera leo) in Tarangire National Park, Northern Tanzania

Abstract

This chapter aims to evaluate the incidence of Spirometra species and other gastrointestinal helminthes in wild lions (Panthera leo) in Tarangire National Park, Northern Tanzania. Faecal samples from seven lions were examined by using floatation and sedimentation methods. There are three different taxa of intestinal helminthes. The parasite genera identified were Spirometra, Toxocara, and Taennidae, with 100%, 71.4%, and 42.8% prevalence rates, respectively. The outcomes demonstrated that the sedimentation method had a 100% success rate in detecting Spirometra (7 infected samples).Results were better for single infections (100%) than for mixed infections. Toxocara and Taennidae had high prevalences according to the flotation method (salt solution SG 1.210) and sugar solution (SG 1.459), respectively. As one of the most often found gastrointestinal helminths, Spirometra sp. is a significant source of zoonotic helminthes and provides a starting point for future research.