PARASITES OF SOUTH-AFRICAN WILDLIFE .14. HELMINTHS OF NYALAS (TRAGELAPHUS-ANGASII) IN THE MKUZI-GAME-RESERVE, KWAZULU-NATAL

The helminths of 58 nyalas (Tragelaphus angasii) culled in the Mkuzi G ame Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal, during March 1991, and six culled during M arch 1994, were collected, identified and counted. Of these, an as yet undescribed Camelostrongylus sp., Cooperia hungi, an Onchocerca so., Strongyloides papillosus and Moniezia benedeni are new parasite record s. The individual nematode burdens of the antelope examined during Mar ch 1991 Varied from one to 2327, and the total mean adult gastro-intes tinal-nematode burden was 586. Those examined during March 1994 had bu rdens that varied from 322 to 1778, with a mean of 854. The two Camelo strongylus spp. were the most prevalent nematodes in the nyalas culled during 1991, while the trematode Cotylophoron jacksoni was mast preva lent in those culled during 1994. The most numerous nematode in nyala calves during 1991 was a Cooperia rotundispiculum race, while the two Camelostrongylus spp. were most numerous in the adult and sub-adult ny alas from both surveys. No clear trends between rainfall and nematode burdens were evident, nor was there any correlation between faecal nem atode egg counts and nematode burdens. Contrary to what was observed i n an earlier survey, female nyalas had larger nematode burdens than th e males.