The Indian Veterinary Journal (November, 2014) 98 Indian Vet. J., November 2014, 91 (11) : 98 - 99 Amphistomosis in Captive Spotted Deer (Axis axis) P.Balaji 1 , D.K.Ingole, K.Senthilkumar, M.Palanivelrajan, S.Gomathinayagam and M.G.Jayathangaraj Department of Wildlife Science, Madras Veterinary College, Chennai- 600007. (Received : 16-11-2012; Accepted : 04-03-2013) Parasites including amphistomes can become a major health concern in captive ruminants held in confined or semi confined areas (Fowler, 1986). Amphistomosis is associated with param- phistome flukes in forestomachs and its patho- genicity lies with immature stages of several species viz., Cotylophoron cotylophoron, Param- phistomum cervi and Gastrothylax cruminifer etc. attached to duodenal mucosa recovered from fore stomaches of wild ruminants (Arora, 2003). The paramphistomes are cosmopolitan in distri- bution but disease is most common in warmer regions like Australia, Africa and India. Present paper put on record amphistomosis and its successful therapeutic management in spotted deer reared in captivity at Guindy childrens park, Guindy. Case History and Observations A study was undertaken to find out the preva- lence of endoparasitic infection in captive spotted deer housed at Guindy Children’s Park Guindy, Chennai. Clinical findings were loss of body weight, weakness, depression, anemia and dry hair coat. Materials and Methods A pooled fecal samples collected from the enclosure of the spotted deer were subjected to qualitative examination by both sedimenta- tion and floatation techniques and quantitative examination by Me Master technique (Soulsby, 1982). Results and Discussion Fecal examination showed the presence of large number of oval shaped amphistomes eggs, 8-10 per microscopic field, with distinct operculum and eggs per gram ranged from 398 to 550. The animals in the enclosure were treated with specific therapy of oxyclozanide @ 18.7 mg/kg bw orally (Radostits et al., 2006). Moreover prophy- lactic measures such as control of the snails in vicinity and cleaning and white washing of water tanks once in three months were suggested to prevent the recurrence of amphistomosis, in addition to the advice on strengthening of the water related hygienic measures. Amphistomosis occurs wherever ruminant animals, planorbid snail population and metacercaria are concentrated in a small area. Planorbid snails multiply very rapidly in warm, watery environments but can subse- quently survive dry conditions, so metacer- caria are found on herbage in and around water sources and becomes source of infection (Radostits et al.,2006). Among the cervids (Axis axis and C. unicolor) heavy mortality due to Paramphistomum cervi was experienced during hard summer of 1981 in Wildlife National Park, Ranthambore, Rajasthan (Arora, 2003) and in Wildlife National Park, Tadoba, Chandrapur, Maharashtra (Arora et al., 1985). Hafeez (1983) reported occurrence of amphistomosis from the reticulum of spotted deer. A coprological survey revealed high prevalence of amphistome fiukes in the free ranging artiodactylids in National Park, Dudwa, UP (Arora et al., 1985). Padhi et al., (1987) noted on the occurrence of amphis- tomosis in the rumen of spotted deer at the Nandankanan Biological Park, Barang, Orissa. Summary Amphistomosis infection was diagnosed in spotted deer (Axis axis) in Guindy Childrens Park, Chennai and therapeutic management is presented. 1 Corresponding author : Email : balaJivet05@gmail.com