Rumen Ciliates of Tokara Native Goat in Kagoshima, Japan

Abstract

The composition of rumen ciliate protozoa was surveyed in 15 Tokara native goats, Capra hircus domesticus, inhibiting Kagoshima, Japan. As a result, of 11 species with 3 forms under 5 genera detected, Entodinium simplex, E. nanellum and E. rectangulatum were found in all the animals examined. The large ophryoscolecid ciliates detected were Polyplastron multivesiculatum and Metadinium affine alone, which have been regarded as the typical members of Type A composition proposed by Eadie. Since Tokara native goats have been bred isolated in a small islet for a long time, native goats that had been kept in south Japan might possess Type A fauna. Average ciliate density was 43.9×10⁴ per 1 ml of rumen fluid. The number of species per host was 8.3 on average. Diversity index was 1.412 on average.