A Bengali tigress died on Saturday at the Lahore Zoo, which is the second death of a cat family within a span of two days. Officials in the Lahore Zoo said that blood parasite trypanosomiasis, a deadly disease carried by fleas and mosquitoes was the probable cause behind the death, but only the post-mortem report would determine the actual cause of death.
"On Friday, a Bengali tiger also died in a similar fashion, which was borrowed for breeding with the tigress," he added. According to sources, health of the remaining four tigers in the Lahore Zoo was also critical. They were infected with the same disease and were on drips.
Moreover, a team has been constituted that include experts from Veterinary Research Institute, Veterinary Hospital and World Wide Funds for Nature-Pakistan to examine the situation.
However, the Lahore Zoo was planning to buy more lions and tigers to replace the loss in near future. Wildlife experts pointed out that immune system of animals has been weakened by carrying out of breeding within a family, hence, their resistance to diseases becomes low. To add to the problem, continuous intake of medicine to fight diseases becomes zero, as parasites becomes immune to chemicals.
According to a press release issued by the Lahore Zoo, the disease trypanosomiasis, also known as sleeping sickness caused by a protozoan called trypanosma, was a blood parasite transmitted from infected individuals by vectors like mosquitoes, fleas, ticks, etc. Through blood the parasite attacks nervous system causing drowsiness, sleepiness, intermittent, fever, anaemia, weight loss and ultimately death of victim. The incubation period of the disease ranges between one to four weeks.
The Lahore Zoo has the history of such attacks of the disease. First time the disease appeared in the Lahore was in 1997 that claimed the lives of six tigers. The tigers are particularly victims of trypanosomiasis throughout the world. In June/July 2002, twelve died at the Nandankanan Zoo in Orissa, where 56 tigers were housed.
In 2006, it again appeared in tigers at Lahore Zoo and three tigers died during this outbreak. Despite of all these, necessary precautionary measures were adopted to save remaining stock on recommendations of various zoo managers, veterinarians and wildlife experts.
In January 2007, following preventive measures were adopted to combat expected disease during forthcoming spring season: affixed mosquito replant in cages; net over cages of animals; repeated white wash of cages; burring of crevices of cage walls; disinfections of cages by daily mop; and acid wash of tiger cage floors.
Moreover, frequent blood sampling was done and sent to University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Diagnostic Laboratory, Lahore, and Zeenat Laboratories, Lahore, for parasitic examination.
Moreover, meetings of wildlife experts, zoo managers and veterinarians from the Veterinary University, Veterinary Research Institute, WWF-Pakistan and Diagnostic Lab Copper Road were held to focus on this issue and treatments and measures recommended by these were strictly followed.