Identifikasi Jenis dan Prevalensi Endoparasit Gastrointestinal pada Gajah Sumatera (Elephas maximus sumatranus) di Taman Nasional Gunung Leuser Resor Tangkahan

Abstract

The population of sumatran elephants (Elephas maximus sumatranus) continues to face significant threats due to limited human knowledge of their behavior in the wild and the growing number of disturbances. One contributing factor to this decline is the occurrence of infectious diseases, particularly gastrointestinal infections caused by endoparasites. A study was conducted from February to May 2025 to identify and analyze the prevalence of gastrointestinal endoparasites in sumatran elephants at Gunung Leuser National Park, Tangkahan Resort. Approximately 50 grams of fresh fecal samples were collected in the morning from 9 elephants at the enclosure site. These samples were then preserved and subsequently analyzed at the Animal Laboratory, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Sumatera Utara, using native and flotation methods. The types of endoparasites were identified, and the prevalence values for each were calculated. The results showed that there were three endoparasite species: Strongylus sp., with a prevalence of 44.44%, categorized as ‘commonly’; Strongyloides sp., with a prevalence of 22.22%, categorized as ‘often’; and Eimeria sp., with a prevalence of 11.11%, categorized as ‘commonly.’