Effect of schistosomiasis on captive elephants in Madhya Pradesh, India

Schistosomes are parasitic flukes that reside in blood vessels and various host organs. Health monitoring of 51 captive elephants in tiger reserves of Madhya Pradesh revealed a 35% overall incidence of blood flukes. The highest levels of Bivitellobilharzia nairi eggs were recorded in elephants in Satpura (67%), Kanha (47%), Bandhavgarh (33%), Pench (25%), and the lowest in Panna Tiger Reserve (14%). Infected animals showed decreased haemoglobin (7.5–11.8 g/dl), and elevated aspartate aminotransferase (65–102 U/L), alanine aminotransferase (85–105 U/L), and blood urea nitrogen (46–65 mg/dl). They also showed symptoms that included dullness/depression and emaciated body condition, which were especially evident in elephants with high B. nairi egg counts > 1200–2300 eggs/g.