STUDIES ON PARASITIC PREVALENCE IN RING NECKED PHEASANTS (PHASIANUS COLCHICUS) IN CAPTIVITY

Fecal and blood samples of ring necked pheasants, Phasianus colchicus were analyzed to record the parasitic prevalence in these pheasants. A total of 1000 samples, 500 blood and 500 fecal samples were collected from Captive Breeding Facilities for Birds, Department of Wildlife and Ecology, Ravi Campus, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore. Parasitic genera identified from blood samples of P. colchicus include Leukocytozoon, Plasmodium and Haemoproteus. Prevalence of Leukocytozoon was 16 % while the prevalence of Haemoproteus was 14.3%. Parasitic genera identified from fecal samples of P. colchicus include Eimeria, Isospora, Trichomonas and Giardia. Eggs of five species of nematodes viz. Capillaria, Syngamus trachea and Ascaridia, Heterakis isolonche and Heterakis gallinarum were also identified from the fecal samples. The ectoparasites included one species of burrowing mite Knemidocoptes mutans and two species of chewing lice i.e. Amyrsidea perdicis and Lipeurus maculosus.