Study on intestinal nematode infection in porcupines (Hystrix brachyura) and experimental therapy in Tra Vinh province

Abstract

This study was conducted in Cau Ngang, Cang Long and Cau Ke districts, Tra Vinh province from
01, August 2015 to 30 August 2016. The result of analyzing 255 porcupine fecal samples (by floatation
technique) and necropsy of 27 cases showed that the infection rate of porcupine with roundworm was
76.5% and 96.3%, respectively. The result of identifying and classifying intestinal roundworm species from
the experimental porcupines showed that the three different roundworm species were observed in all three
investigating locations, such as: Trichuris infundibulus,Enterobius vermicularis,andNeoascaris mackerrasae.
Especially, Enterobius vermicularis species (a zoonotic nematode) should be paid much attention. The
red blood cell and hemoglobin parameters of the infection porcupines were lower than that of the healthy
porcupines. While the number of WBC and eosinophil of the infection porcupines were higher than that of
the normal ones. The experimental deworming was carried out by using three kind of anthelmintic drugs,
such as levamisole (by oral), ivermectin (by injection) and albendazole (by oral). The treatment result
showed that all of these drugs were safe and having no side effects to animals during treatment. Especially,
albendazole with a dose of 10-14 mg/kg body weight was the most effective with 100% deworming.