Coprological Assessment of Enteric Parasites in Argali Sheep (Ovis ammon), Siberian Ibex (Capra sibirica), and Domestic Sheep and Goats at the Ikh Nart Nature Reserve in Mongolia

In the spring of 2009 (April/May) the Denver Zoological Foundation in collaboration with the Mongolian Academy of Sciences conducted a fi eld coprological assessment feasibility study at the Ikh Nart Nature Reserve in southeastern Mongolia. Our initial effort was directed at fi nding simple methodologies that would work consistently in the fi eld for identifying some of the enteric parasites for argali sheep (Ovis ammon) and Siberian ibex (Capra sibirica), and then to compare these to samples from local nomad domestic fat-tailed sheep (Ovis aries) and cashmere goats (Capra hircus). Direct fecal examination yielded less eggs than the fl otation techniques, but was still felt to be useful as a quick screening tool. From the fl otation techniques we settled on using sugar because it appeared to yield the most eggs and sugar is readily available in Mongolia. We successfully recovered Entamoeba sp., Eimeria spp., trichostrongyles, large trichostrongyle species, Trichuris ovis and Strongyloides papillosus. We are using the digital images we captured to create a fi eld guide for common enteric parasites found in wildlife and domestics ungulates found in the reserve. In the future, we plan to use the fi eld guide and the quantitative modifi ed McMaster technique to compare parasite egg-type numbers in both wild and domestic ungulates during different seasons.