Date

2021

Degree

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

College

College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Emilia A. Lastica-Ternura, Cris Niño Bon C. Marasigan

Abstract

Parasitic infections can lead to serious diseases in captive wildlife making them a serious concern in captive environments. Wildlife serves as major reservoirs of zoonotic agents and parasites are among them. This study was conducted to detect the presence of hemoparasites and gastrointestinal parasites in captive Varanus spp. and to describe their association with hematologic characteristics. Blood and fecal samples of Varanus spp. from the Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB), Quezon City, Philippines were examined for hemoparasites and gastrointestinal parasites using light microscopy. Blood cell morphology was assessed using light microscopy while complete blood count was measured using light microscopy, Natt and Herrick method, and centrifugation. Mild anisocytosis and basophilic stippling were observed. No hemoparasites were found but Strongyloides sp. and ascarid eggs were detected. The association of parasitic infection to hematologic changes was not determined because only two samples are with parasites. Instead, the complete blood counts of the samples with and without parasites were assessed and the morphologic abnormalities of red blood cells were described. There was no consistent pattern in the hematologic changes observed in the samples with parasites. The detection of Strongyloides sp. should prompt further research on species identification due to its zoonotic potential.

Language

English

Location

UPLB College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM)

Notes

Best Thesis in Wildlife Medicine, 2021

Document Type

Thesis

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