Cross infection with gastro-intestinal tract parasites between domestic goat and endemic Farasan gazelle (Gazella gazella farasani) in Farasan Islands, Saudi Arabia

Host related variations in helminth egg and coccidian oocyst counts were compared between a naturally infected endemic population of Farasan gazelle and domestic goats on the Farasan Islands, Saudi Arabia in April 2009. Both bovid species inhabit and browse in the same area but no cross-infection could be detected. The prevalence and mean intensity quantified as the number of eggs and oocysts per gram of faeces were taken as a measure of parasite burdens. Host related differences in prevalence values of Eimeria spp. were significantly higher in domestic goats than in wild gazelles. A similar trend was observed for nematode prevalence (strongyle-type eggs), with no infection in gazelle and low infection in goats. There was also a significant difference in mean intensity values between different Eimeria spp. found in domestic goats.