Vol. 11, Special Issue 8 (2022)

Author(s):
Deepesh Sharma, Stuti Vatsya, Rajeev Ranjan Kumar and Sudhir Kumar

Abstract:
The present study aimed to evaluate parasitic load among the monkeys in order to assess the threat of parasitic transmission to humans since they act as a potential source of parasitic zoonoses. In the present study, faeces of 52 Rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) were collected from different Tarai region of Uttarakhand. These faecal samples were brought to the laboratory of Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, Pantnagar and examined for the presence of parasitic eggs and cyst using qualitative and quantitative methods of faecal examination. Out of 52 faecal samples of monkeys, 37 (71.15%) were found positive for one or mixed parasitic infection. The study revealed that the monkeys were infected with 7 genera of parasites i.e. Trichuris sp. (23.07%), Hymenolepis sp. (5.76%), Strongyloides sp. (13.46%), Ancylostoma sp. (19.23%), Entamoeba cyst (26.92%), Ascaris sp. (7.69%), Strongyle eggs (13.46%) and unidentified cestode egg (17.30%). The multiplicity and frequency of various parasites were observed in faeces of monkeys collected from nearby areas of human habitats suggest that these parasites can pose a high risk of its transmission to human population and thus are of considerable public health importance.