Rumen ciliates from the Mongolian gazelle, Procapra gutturosa.

Abstract

Rumen ciliate composition was surveyed on the Mongolian gazelle, Procapra gutturosa in Inner-Mongolia, China. As a result of survey, 4 species belonging to the genus Entodinium, E. convexum, E. dubardi, E. nanellum and E. exiguum, were detected. All the ciliates were devoid of caudal appendages. Of the species detected, E. convexum was found from all the hosts with a relatively high composition rate of 53.0-100.0%. The ciliate density ranged from 12.3 to 67.7 x 10(4), with an average of 24.8 x 10(4) per 1 ml of the rumen fluid.