Evaluation of subsampling and fixation procedures used for counting rumen protozoa

A study was carried out to determine if the protozoal fauna of indigenous African wild ruminants was different from that found in their domestic counterparts and if the animal's diet influenced the number and types of protozoa. Samples of rumen contents were collected in 1997 and 2001 from various indigenous African wild ruminants in Kenya. All three ruminant feeding types were sampled: browsers or concentrate selectors (giraffe and Guenther's dik-dik); intermediate or adaptable mixed feeders (impala, Thomson's gazelle, Grant's gazelle and eland); grass or roughage eaters (hartebeest and wildebeest). Total concentration of ciliate protozoa and percentage generic distribution were determined. In general, protozoal concentrations were higher in concentrate selectors, followed by the intermediate or opportunistic mixed feeders and lowest in the grass and roughage eaters. Both Thomson's and Grant's gazelle were protozoa-free in the 2001 samples. Entodinium percentages were considerably higher in concentrate selectors and intermediate mixed feeders, compared to roughage eaters. Two genera of protozoa previously found in only a few African ruminants, Epiplastron and Opisthotrichum, were observed in several additional animal species and represent new host records. A difference was noted in the protozoal species composition of the indigenous wild ruminants from that previously observed in African domestic ruminants.

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 96%

Influence of Diet on the Rumen Protozoal Fauna of Indigenous African Wild Ruminants

Dehority¹,

Odenyo²

2003

“…Whole rumen contents were preserved by mixing with an equal volume of 18.5% formaldehyde. Protozoal concentrations were determined according to the procedures previously described by Dehority (Dehority 1984(Dehority , 1993.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Cross‐Inoculation From Elk and Feeding Pine Needles On the Protozoan Fauna of Pregnant Cows: Occurrence of Parentodinium Africanum In Domestic U.S. Cattle (Bos Taurus)

Dehority¹,

Grings

Short

1999

Consumption of pine needles tends to cause abortion in domestic cattle but not in elk. The present study was undertaken to determine whether this difference was associated with the rumen microbial population. After emptying the rumen, pregnant cattle were inoculated with either elk or cattle rumen contents. For those cows fed the pine needle diet, there was no difference in abortion rate between those inoculated with rumen contents from either elk or cattle. Protozoal concentrations and number of genera were observed to decrease markedly in all cows fed the diet containing pine needles. The cycloposthiid ciliate Parentodinium africanum was observed in rumen contents from several of the domestic cattle (Bos taurus). Concentrations ranged from 1.4 to 130.6 x 10(4) per ml of rumen contents, which comprised 4.6 to 80.3% of the total ciliate population. Mean dimensions of this species were: length, 33.4 microns; width, 19.7 microns; length/width ratio, 1.70, which were similar to those previously reported for this species from Bos indicus in Brazil. This is the first observation of P. africanum, originally observed and described in stomach contents of the hippopotamus, either in Bos taurus or in any host in the northern hemisphere.

“…Protozoal concentrations were determined according to the procedures previously published by Dehority [3]. Briefly, a 1 -ml aliquot of the formalinized digesta contents was stained 4 h to overnight with brilliant green dye.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A New Family of Entodiniomorph Protozoa from the Marsupial Forestomach, with Descriptions of a New Genus and Five New Species

Dehority

1996

A unique group of entodiniomorph protozoa was found in forestomach contents from quokka (Setonix brachyurus), western grey kangaroo (Macropus fuliginosus), red kangaroo (Macropus rufus) and euro (Macropus robustus erubescens). A new genus, Macropodinium n.g., containing five new species, is described. Three species are described from forestomach contents of the quokka: Macropodinium baldense n. sp., Macropodinium moiri n. sp. and Macropodinium setonixum n. sp. A single species, Macropodinium ennuensis n. sp., is described from the red kangaroo and euro. The last species, Macropodinium yalanbense n. sp., is described in forestomach contents from the western grey kangaroo. At least three distinct features in the new genus are incompatible with any of the described families in the order Entodiniomorphida. On this basis, the new family Macropodiniidae has been created.