Coproparasitological evaluation of nematodes and coccidia in a wild vicuña (Vicugna vicugna) population in the Argentinean Andean Altiplano

Abstract

A parasite screening evaluation was conducted to determine the presence of gastrointestinal nematodes and coccidia in wild vicuñas (Vicugna vicugna vicugna) from Jujuy, in Argentina´s Andean Altiplano. Faecal samples were collected during the capture of wild vicuñas. Of the 150 vicuñas that were sampled, 40.66 % (61/150) tested positive to gastrointestinal nematodes eggs, 7.33% (11/150) to coccidia oocysts, 4.66% (7/150) to Nematodirus sp. eggs and 1 animal tested positive to cestodes eggs shedding. The absence of clinical signs of parasite infestation, combined with the low egg and oocysts counts observed in this survey, suggest low levels of parasitism in wild vicuña (Vicugna vicugna vicugna) living in their free-ranging natural (the Santa Catalina region of the Laguna de Pozuelos Basin). This would not represent a threat to the wild vicuñas or to domestic livestock.