Endoparasites of African Forest Elephants (Loxodonta africana cyclotis) from the Republic of Congo and Central African Republic

Fecal samples were collected from 6 African forest elephants, Loxodonta africana cyclotis, from the Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park, Republic of Congo, and the Dzangha-Sangha National Park, Central African Republic. One of the elephants was found freshly dead from natural causes, and 12 species of intestinal parasites (2 bot fly larvae, 1 trematode, and 9 nematodes) were collected during a complete necropsy. In addition, fecal samples revealed the presence of a schistosome, Bivitellobilharzia sp., a tracheal nematode, Mammomonagamus sp., and a complex of intestinal strongylids and ciliates. The nematode genera Decrusia and Equinurbia are reported for the first time from African elephants, and the ciliate genus Latteuria is reported for the first time from wild elephants. The parasite fauna of the African elephant is discussed in the light of recent genetic evidence that the forest and savannah elephants may be separate species.