Occurrence of Holotrichous Ciliated Protozoa Inhabiting the Rumen of Domestic Goat Capra Hircus (L.) Families Isotrichidae (Trichostomatida) and Buetschliidae (Prostomatida)

Abstract

Rumen fluid samples of domestic goats (Capra hircus L.) were collected from slaughter houses of Kannad (Aurangabad M.S.) for the study of holotrichous ciliate protozoa.  As a result of the survey of 169 rumen fluid samples the 3 species of ciliates (Isotricha intestinalis, I. prostoma and Dasytricha ruminantum) from two genera, Family Isotrichidae and one species from the genus Buetschlia (Buetschlia parva) Family Buetschliidae were studied.  All these recognized ciliates were morphologically described and compared with their original descriptions and previous reports. The similarities and differences were discussed. The paper reveals that Isotricha intestinalis and Buetschlia parva are the first report in India from the rumen of goat.