CILIATE FAUNA IN THE CHAMOIS ( RUPICAPRA RUPICAPRA L

Crha J., V. Hrabe,P. Koubek: Rumen Ciliate Fauna in the Chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra L.J. Acta vet. Brno, 54, 1985: 141-147. Total numbers, generic distribution and percentage species distribution were determined for the ciliate protozoa in rumen fluid obtained frem the chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra L.J. Ten individuals shot in the Jeseniky Mountains in November and December were used in the study. A total of 792000 ± 115 03~ ciliates were found per 1,0 ml of rumen fluid. Thirteen ciliate species were identified as follows: Entodinium cervi, Ent. dubardi, Ent. exiguum, Ent. laeve, Ent. loboso-spinosum, Ent. nanellum, Ent. parvum, Ent. rupicaprae, Ent. simplex, Diplodinium costa tum, Eremoplastron impalae, Eudiplodinium maggii and Epidinium ecaudatum. Ciliata, Entodiniomorphida, rumen, wild ruminants. Rumen ciliates of chamois were first studied by Wertheim (1934) in three animals shot in Slovenian mountains, and by Christl (1955) in five individuals from Bavarian mountains. Except for the autochthonous chamois residing in the High Tatra mountains (Blahout 1972) all chamois populations living in other regions of Czechoslovakia had been introduced. The aim of the present study was to compare the ciliate fauna of the rumen of alpine chamois with that of the individuals of the introduced chamois popUlation residing in the Jeseniky mountains. Materials and Methods Ciliate fauna of the rumen of 10 chamois was examined. The animals were shot in the Jeseniky mountains in November and December 1982 (8 individuals 6 males, among them one kid and 2 females), and in the same months of 1983 (2 individuals 1 male and 1 female). After sampling, the rumen fluid was mixed with equal amount of 10 % formalin. Total numbers of ciliates and their generic distribution were determined in 1,0 ml rumen fluid using the Fuchs Rosenthal chamber. The individual ciliate species were determined both directly in a 5 % preservative formalin solution and after staining the nucleus (with acid carmine, Garazzi's glycerin hematoxylin, Heidenheim ferrous hematoxylin, methyl green)_ The skeletal plates were stained with chlorzincjodide and differentiated with concentrated sulphuric acid_ Specimens of the individual ciliate species were measured. Their identification was based on the descriptions of Dog i e I 1927), Kofoid and MacLennan (1930-33), Wertheim (1935), Lubinsky (1957) -and Latteur (1966).

Rumen ciliates of chamois were first studied by Wertheim (1934) in three animals shot in Slovenian mountains, and by Christl (1955) in five individuals from Bavarian mountains.Except for the autochthonous chamois residing in the High Tatra mountains (Blahout 1972) all chamois populations living in other regions of Czechoslovakia had been introduced.
The aim of the present study was to compare the ciliate fauna of the rumen of alpine chamois with that of the individuals of the introduced chamois popUlation residing in the Jeseniky mountains.

Materials and Methods
Ciliate fauna of the rumen of 10 chamois was examined.The animals were shot in the Jeseniky mountains in November and December 1982 (8 individuals -6 males, among them one kid and 2 females), and in the same months of 1983 (2 individuals -1 male and 1 female).
After sampling, the rumen fluid was mixed with equal amount of 10 % formalin.Total numbers of ciliates and their generic distribution were determined in 1,0 ml rumen fluid using the Fuchs Rosenthal chamber.The individual ciliate species were determined both directly in a 5 % preservative formalin solution and after staining the nucleus (with acid carmine, Garazzi's glycerin hematoxylin, Heidenheim ferrous hematoxylin, methyl green)_ The skeletal plates were stained with chlorzincjodide and differentiated with concentrated sulphuric acid_ Specimens of the individual ciliate species were measured.Their identification was based on the descriptions of Dog i e I 1927), Kofoid and MacLennan (1930-33), Wertheim (1935), Lubinsky (1957) -and Latteur (1966).
The following species were found: Order: Entodiniomorphida REICHENOW, 1929 Family: Ophryoscolecidae STEIN, 1858 Genus: EntQdinium STEIN, 1858 Species with one caudal projection was first described in deer by K ubi k 0 v a (1935).SIadecek (1947) found this species in deer and fallow deer and designated it Entodinium dubardi forma cervi, Crha (1972) detected the same species in fallow deer.In present material the size of specimens was smaller than that given by other authors in other ruminant species.Body length (1) 51 fLm (42-60 fLm), body width (w) 33 fLm (24-42 fLm), lenght to width ratio 1.5.
Occurrence in 100 % of examined hosts.
Occurrence in 90 % of examined hosts.
Occurrence in 40 % of examined hosts.
Occurrence in 100 % of examined hosts.
Occurrence in 80 % of examined hosts.
Occurrence in 60 % of examined hosts.

Discussion
In chamois from the Slovenian mountains 8 rumen ciliate species were found (Wertheim 1934), in those form the Bavarian mountains 18 species have been described by Christl (1955).The author explained this considerable variety of ciliate species by common roaming areas of the chamois and other ruminants, especially the deer.Among 13 species identified in our material only 3 ciliate species (En todinium nanellum, Ent.simplex and Diplodinium costatum) are the same as found by the above-mentioned authors.Our finding of further 6 species (Entodinium dubardJ~ Ent. exz'guum, Ent. parvum, Ent. rupic:zprae, Eudiplodinium maggiJ~ and Epidinium ecaudatum) corresponds to that of Christl (1955).Four species (Entodinium cervJ~ Ent.laeve, Ent.lobosospinosum and Eremoplastron impalae) found in our material have not been reported by these authors, and, on the other hand, the representative of the genus Ophryoscolex found by both writers was not detected in our study.
Microfauna of the rumen of chamois from the French mountains (Jura) comprised 14 species of ciliates, of which 7 were the same as in specimens of Christl (1955) and in our material.In Japanese seraw (Capricornis crispus TEMMINCK, 1854) from subfamily Rupicaprinae, the rumen microfauna contained 11 ciliate species (Imai et al. 1981) among which 5 species were also found in our group of chamois, and in experimental material of other European writers.Neither the species Dasytricha ruminantium found in Japanese seraw nor other holotrichs were detected in the European chamois, and it was not found in our specimens.