European Journal of PROTISTOLOGY European Journal of Protistology 45 (2009) 112–120 Rumen protozoal diversity in the Spanish ibex (Capra pyrenaica hispanica) as compared with domestic goats (Capra hircus) Gabriel de la Fuente a,b , Alejandro Belanche a , Leticia Abecia a , Burk A. Dehority b , Manuel Fondevila a,Ã a Departamento de Produccio´n Animal y Ciencia de los Alimentos, Universidad de Zaragoza, M. Servet 177, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain b Department of Animal Sciences, Ohio State University, Wooster, OH 44691, USA Received 4 April 2008; received in revised form 2 July 2008; accepted 24 July 2008 Abstract Rumen protozoal diversity in the Spanish ibex (SI) was studied in males (n ¼ 4), females (n ¼ 7) and young (n ¼ 4) from the Maestrazgo (Spain) and contrasted with domestic goats (n ¼ 3; DG) of the same region. There were no differences among SI types in protozoal concentration or in the number of protozoal species. Only protozoa from the genus Entodinium were observed in SI (seven species), the highest numbers corresponding to E. damae, E. ovibos and E. parvum. DG harboured threefold more species than SI. Nine to 10 Entodinium spp. were observed, but E. ovibos was absent from the rumen of DG, and E. damae was in only one animal. E. caudatum (caudatum, dubardi and lobospinosum morphotypes) occurred in the highest percentage, and E. dubardi, E. exiguum and E. parvum were quite abundant. Four genera of the subfamily Diplodiniinae and the genera Isotricha and Dasytricha from the family Isotrichidae were detected in DG. Epidinium (two DG) and Ophryoscolex (one DG) were also observed. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis agreed with microscopic classification, showing up to 8 and 16 bands in SI and DG samples, respectively. The three DG clustered together (similarity index over 0.84), and separately from SI (similarity index over 0.86), with only 0.58 similarity between host species. r 2008 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved. Keywords: Rumen ciliates; Diversity; Spanish ibex; Domestic goats; Ciliates from ruminants Introduction The Spanish ibex (Capra pyrenaica) (SI) is a protected wild ruminant that inhabits several mountain systems in the central (C. pyrenaica victoriae) and east and south east (C. pyrenaica hispanica) sections of Spain (Pe´ rez et al. 2002). Studies about nutrition and feeding of this species have been focused on its digestive anatomy, feeding habits and selection (Manteco´n et al. 1993; Martı´nez 1994), but information about their rumen fermentation characteristics and microbial community is very scarce. Initially, we can assume some similarities between SI and domestic goat (C. hircus) (DG) because of genetic proximity, size and probably feeding habits. According to Hoffman (1989), the DG is an inter- mediate feeder that browses but also consumes pasture herbage. However, SI would present a more selective feeding behaviour (Cuartas and Garcı´a-Gonza´ lez 1992), with preference for fruits and tender leaves of shrubs, especially in winter because of scarcity and low quality of herbaceous species. Cuartas and Garcı´a-Gonza´lez ARTICLE IN PRESS www.elsevier.de/ejop 0932-4739/$ - see front matter r 2008 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.ejop.2008.07.001 Ã Corresponding author. Tel.: +34 976 761660; fax: +34 976 761590. E-mail address: mfonde@unizar.es (M. Fondevila).