Sharing schistosomes: the elephant schistosome Bivitellobilharzia nairi also infects the greater one-horned rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) in Chitwan National Park, Nepal

Researchers have discovered that the elephant schistosome Bivitellobilharzia nairi, previously known to infect elephants, also infects the greater one-horned rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) in Chitwan National Park, Nepal. This is the first sequence-verified identification of a schistosome from any rhinoceros species and the first verified occurrence of Bivitellobilharzia in mammals other than elephants. The study analyzed fecal samples from wild and domestic elephants, as well as rhinoceroses, using morphological and genetic (cox1 and 28S) analyses to confirm the presence of B. nairi. The findings suggest that these two charismatic megafauna species share this parasite due to their similar lifestyle involving extensive contact with freshwater habitats, though the intermediate snail host and infection mode remain undocumented.

Devkota, R., Brant, S. V., Thapa, A., & Loker, E. S. (2012). Sharing schistosomes: the elephant schistosome Bivitellobilharzia nairi also infects the greater one-horned rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) in Chitwan National Park, Nepal. Journal of Helminthology, 88(1), 32–40. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0022149x12000697