A SURVEY FOR CRYPTOSPORIDIUM SPP IN MAMMALS AT THE BARCELONA ZOO

Mammals housed at the Barcelona Zoo belonging to the orders Carnivora, Artiodactyla, Perissodactyla and Proboscidea were examined for Crypto sporidium infections. A total of 183 fecal samples from 17 carnivores and 34 herbivores revealed patent infections in only 6 herbivore speci es (5 artiodactyls of the families Bovidae and Giraffidae and 1 periss odactyl of the family Rhinocerotidae); all carnivores were negative. I ntensity of infection was found to be generally low. Connochaetes taur inus taurinus, Gazella dorcas neglecta, Kobus ellipsiprymmus and Giraf fa camelopardalis constitute new host species for the parasite.