Rumen ciliate biota of water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis Linnaeus, 1758) in Kastamonu, Turkey

Abstract

Species composition and distribution of rumen ciliates were investigated in the rumen contents of six Anatolian water buffaloes living in Kastamonu, Turkey. Thirty-seven species and 19 morphotypes belonging to 11 genera were identified, all being first reports of rumen ciliates from Anatolian water buffaloes. The mean number of ciliates was 70.5 ± 62.3 × 104 cells in 1 mL of rumen contents, while the average number of ciliate species per host was 17.5 ± 3.6. Dasytricha ruminantium, Entodinium simulans, and En. longinucleatum were found to be the dominant species occurring in all animals. Entodinium ellipsoideum, Eudiplodinium dilobum,andOstracodinium munham were isolated from buffaloes for the first time. No previously unknown species were observed.