Endoparasites of captive keelback snakes at Chennai Snake Park Trust, Tamil Nadu

The present study was carried out to determine the endoparasitic infections in keelback snakes maintained under captive conditions in Chennai Snake Park Trust, India. A total of 36 faecal, water and substrate samples were collected and subjected to endoparasite examination using centrifugal sedimentation and floatation techniques. Among the 36 samples, 29 (80.56%) were positive for parasite stages. The oocysts of Eimeria sp. were found to be predominant followed by ova of strongyles, Ophidascaris sp., Strongyloides sp. and mixed infection of strongyles and Eimeria sp. Examination of water and substrate samples collected from different keelback snakes revealed the eggs of strongyles, Eimeria sp. and presence of both strongyle eggs and oocysts of Eimeria sp. The present findings could aid in carrying out suitable management practices to reduce the endoparasitism in captive snakes.