Effects of Host Movement and Available Grazing Space on Helminth Infections in Plains Zebras (Equus Quagga) in Kenya

Abstract

Parasitic infections can regulate populations of wildlife and even drive extinction through harmful effects on the host. The intensity and diversity of these infections are driven by factors like patterns of host movement and grazing area available. Gastrointestinal helminths are common in horses, donkeys and zebras, in many parts of the world. The plains zebras (Equus quagga) are the commonest species of zebras in Kenya and occur in various ecosystems and demonstrate varying host behaviour, which could influence the diversity and intensity of parasitic infections. In the Masai Mara National Reserve (MMNR) for example, some of the plains zebras migrate (migratory) annually back and forth to the Serengeti plains in Tanzania together with other animals, during the world-famous wildebeest migration. The migration could expose them to different types of parasitic infections. Other plains zebras remain year-round in the reserve (resident), with free movement and almost limitless availability of grazing space. Plains zebras in fenced settings, such as parks live in insularized habitats (sedentary), which could limit their movement and expose them to different levels of parasitic infections. Despite the significance of helminths infection on their host population dynamics, there was scarce information concerning these infections among the sedentary, migratory and resident plains zebras in LNNP and MMNR. The first objective of the study was to establish the prevalence, intensity, and diversity of helminth infections in plains zebras in two ecosystems in Kenya that have varying grazing size area and host movement patterns for Zebras. Faecal samples were collected from pastures grazed by resident and migratory zebras in the MMNR and sedentary zebras in LNNP in 2014 and 2015 during the animal’s migration period in MMNR and analysed for helminth eggs using the floatation technique.............................................................