Epidemiology and risk factors for endoparasite infection in subtropical feral cattle in Hong Kong
Understanding parasite epidemiology is essential for managing endoparasite infections in free-ranging animals. However, such epidemiological knowledge is limited for feral cattle and is usually derived from farmed populations. We assessed endoparasite infection in a feral cattle population in Hong K...
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Elsevier
2025-08-01
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| Series: | International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213224425000471 |
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| author | Tania A. Perroux Samantha S.Y. Lie Alan G. McElligott Danchen A. Yang Fraser I. Hill George M.W. Hodgson Wing S. Wong Kate J. Flay |
| author_facet | Tania A. Perroux Samantha S.Y. Lie Alan G. McElligott Danchen A. Yang Fraser I. Hill George M.W. Hodgson Wing S. Wong Kate J. Flay |
| author_sort | Tania A. Perroux |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Understanding parasite epidemiology is essential for managing endoparasite infections in free-ranging animals. However, such epidemiological knowledge is limited for feral cattle and is usually derived from farmed populations. We assessed endoparasite infection in a feral cattle population in Hong Kong. This population does not receive any routine care or anthelminthic treatment, although some cattle are provisioned with water and hay by local citizens. We assessed three indices of endoparasite infection (parasite richness, prevalence and fecal egg/oocyst count) and their associated risk factors (season, provisioning, marshland access, group size, sex and body condition) in adult cattle.We conducted sedimentation, McMaster and coproculture techniques on 262 samples collected from 177 cattle. We identified eleven taxa of nematodes, two taxa of trematodes, one taxon of protozoan and one taxon of cestode. Median parasite richness was two parasite taxa per individual. Trematode infections were the most prevalent (91.22 %), followed by protozoan (67.17 %), nematode (23.22 %) and cestode (12.97 %) infections. Counts averaged 144.85 oocysts per gram for Eimeria oocysts, 20.61 eggs per gram (EPG) for strongyle-type eggs, 11.83 EPG for Moniezia and 1.91 EPG for Trichuris. Provisioned herds were more likely to be infected with Eimeria, but had lower prevalence of Trichostrongylus. Eimeria prevalence and strongyle-type egg counts were higher in the wet season, while Fasciola eggs, Cooperia and Trichostrongylus larvae were more prevalent in the dry season. Larger herds had higher Eimeria oocyst prevalence but lower Fasciola egg prevalence. Marshland access decreased Fasciola egg prevalence while it increased prevalence of Cooperia larvae. Males were more infected with strongyle-type eggs than female cattle.We show that the seasonal dynamics of infection and consequences of provisioning differ between endoparasite taxa. Our findings highlight complex interactions between endoparasites and their hosts, providing new insights into wild ruminants’ health and the impacts of anthropogenic provisioning. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-cc150c48d31c4cdfba0a8a0e7c3d8764 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2213-2244 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
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| series | International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife |
| spelling | doaj-art-cc150c48d31c4cdfba0a8a0e7c3d87642025-08-20T03:23:29ZengElsevierInternational Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife2213-22442025-08-012710108210.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101082Epidemiology and risk factors for endoparasite infection in subtropical feral cattle in Hong KongTania A. Perroux0Samantha S.Y. Lie1Alan G. McElligott2Danchen A. Yang3Fraser I. Hill4George M.W. Hodgson5Wing S. Wong6Kate J. Flay7Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China; Corresponding author.Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of ChinaCentre for Animal Health and Welfare, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China; Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of ChinaCollege of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, ChinaCityU Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory Co Ltd, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of ChinaCentre for Animal Health and Welfare, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China; Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of ChinaJockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of ChinaDepartment of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China; Corresponding author.Understanding parasite epidemiology is essential for managing endoparasite infections in free-ranging animals. However, such epidemiological knowledge is limited for feral cattle and is usually derived from farmed populations. We assessed endoparasite infection in a feral cattle population in Hong Kong. This population does not receive any routine care or anthelminthic treatment, although some cattle are provisioned with water and hay by local citizens. We assessed three indices of endoparasite infection (parasite richness, prevalence and fecal egg/oocyst count) and their associated risk factors (season, provisioning, marshland access, group size, sex and body condition) in adult cattle.We conducted sedimentation, McMaster and coproculture techniques on 262 samples collected from 177 cattle. We identified eleven taxa of nematodes, two taxa of trematodes, one taxon of protozoan and one taxon of cestode. Median parasite richness was two parasite taxa per individual. Trematode infections were the most prevalent (91.22 %), followed by protozoan (67.17 %), nematode (23.22 %) and cestode (12.97 %) infections. Counts averaged 144.85 oocysts per gram for Eimeria oocysts, 20.61 eggs per gram (EPG) for strongyle-type eggs, 11.83 EPG for Moniezia and 1.91 EPG for Trichuris. Provisioned herds were more likely to be infected with Eimeria, but had lower prevalence of Trichostrongylus. Eimeria prevalence and strongyle-type egg counts were higher in the wet season, while Fasciola eggs, Cooperia and Trichostrongylus larvae were more prevalent in the dry season. Larger herds had higher Eimeria oocyst prevalence but lower Fasciola egg prevalence. Marshland access decreased Fasciola egg prevalence while it increased prevalence of Cooperia larvae. Males were more infected with strongyle-type eggs than female cattle.We show that the seasonal dynamics of infection and consequences of provisioning differ between endoparasite taxa. Our findings highlight complex interactions between endoparasites and their hosts, providing new insights into wild ruminants’ health and the impacts of anthropogenic provisioning.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213224425000471Anthropogenic provisioningBos taurusFree-rangingSeasonalityUngulate |
| spellingShingle | Tania A. Perroux Samantha S.Y. Lie Alan G. McElligott Danchen A. Yang Fraser I. Hill George M.W. Hodgson Wing S. Wong Kate J. Flay Epidemiology and risk factors for endoparasite infection in subtropical feral cattle in Hong Kong International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife Anthropogenic provisioning Bos taurus Free-ranging Seasonality Ungulate |
| title | Epidemiology and risk factors for endoparasite infection in subtropical feral cattle in Hong Kong |
| title_full | Epidemiology and risk factors for endoparasite infection in subtropical feral cattle in Hong Kong |
| title_fullStr | Epidemiology and risk factors for endoparasite infection in subtropical feral cattle in Hong Kong |
| title_full_unstemmed | Epidemiology and risk factors for endoparasite infection in subtropical feral cattle in Hong Kong |
| title_short | Epidemiology and risk factors for endoparasite infection in subtropical feral cattle in Hong Kong |
| title_sort | epidemiology and risk factors for endoparasite infection in subtropical feral cattle in hong kong |
| topic | Anthropogenic provisioning Bos taurus Free-ranging Seasonality Ungulate |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213224425000471 |
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