Patterns of helminth infection in Kenyan elephant populations.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:The dynamics of helminth infection in African elephant populations are poorly known. We examined the effects of age, sex, social structure and the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) as primary drivers of infection patterns within and between elephant populations. METHODS:Coprological methods were used to identify helminths and determine infection patterns in distinct elephant populations in Maasai Mara National Reserve, Tsavo East National Park, Amboseli National Park and Laikipia-Samburu Ecosystem. Gaussian finite mixture cluster analyses of egg dimensions were used to classify helminth eggs according to genera. Generalized linear models (GLM) and Chi-square analyses were used to test for variation in helminth infection patterns and to identify drivers in elephant po

SUBMITTER: King'ori E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7081694 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature