Efficacy of oxyclozanide and levamisole treatment on the gastrointestinal parasites in captive Lions Panthera leo

A study was carried out to determine the efficacy of anthelmintics on gastrointestinal parasites in lions under captivity at Bannerghatta Biological Park (Bengaluru), Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Garden (Mysuru) and Tiger-Lion Safari Tyavarekoppa (Shivamogga) during the period from January to June, 2018.  Out of 20 faecal samples subjected to qualitative and quantitative methods, 66.6% were found positive for eggs of Ancylostoma spp., 60.0% for Toxascaris leonina, 20.0% for Spirometra spp. and 13.3% for Balantidium coli cysts with an overall infection rate of 75.0%.  A combination of oxyclozonide 6% w/v and levamisole 3% w/v (Neozide plus) at the rate of 1ml per 4kg body weight revealed egg per gram counts for Ancylostoma spp., T. leonina and Spirometra spp. to be reduced from 100, 11,450 ± 11,250 and 100 to zero respectively on subsequent 3, 7, 10 and 21 days post treatment and proved to be cent per cent effective.