Abstract
BACKGROUND: Blackbuck is a species of antelope native to the Indian subcontinent. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence, diversity, and concurrency of gastrointestinal parasites in the blackbuck population of the Blackbuck Conservation Area in Nepal. METHODS: A total of 150 blackbuck faecal samples were collected and examined using the iodine wet mount and concentration technique. RESULTS: The findings showed that gastrointestinal parasites were prevalent in 96% of the population, with a higher frequency in females than males. There was no significant statistical association between sex and parasite prevalence across genera (χ(2) = 9.141, p > 0.05). Ten different genera of parasites belonging to protozoa, cestode, trematode, and nematode groups were identified. Paramphistomum sp. was the most common, with 55.33% of the cases followed by Strongyloides sp. (52%), Fasciola sp. (36%), Haemonchus sp. (26%), Moniezia sp. (24%), Trichostrongylus sp. (21.33%), Eimeria sp. (19.33%), Entamoeba sp. (15.33%), Ascaris sp. (8.67%), and Trichuris sp. (7.33%). The study revealed mixed infections ranging from one to six genera in each sample, with triple infections being the most prevalent. Most blackbucks exhibited light infection, while five specific parasite types showed heavy infection levels. CONCLUSIONS: The identification of a significant prevalence and variety of gastrointestinal parasites indicates that parasitism may be an overlooked factor affecting the health of the blackbuck population. This emphasizes the importance of integrating parasite monitoring into wildlife health and conservation efforts.