Sarcocystis infection in Chital (Axis axis) and Dhole (Cuon alpinus) in two Indian protected areas

Abstract

A survey of faecally dispersed parasites in Mudumalai National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary and Tadoba National Park revealed that the Dhole or Indian Wild Dog (Cuon alpinus) shed sporocysts of Sarcocystis sp. consistently in large numbers. Post mortem examination of Chital, the major prey of Dhole, showed presence of sarcocysts in the heart and skeletal muscles. Circumstantial evidence points to a Chital-Dhole life-cycle for this species. We report here the prevalence and intensities of infection of the two hosts in both the sanctuaries.