Surveillance of gastrointestinal parasites in pheasants reared at farms and zoos in Japan: High prevalence of Eimeria species infection.

We morphologically examined 148 fecal samples of pheasants reared at farms and zoos in Japan by the sugar flotation method to evaluate infection with gastrointestinal parasites, including Eimeria species. Eimeria oocysts, Capillariid eggs, and Ascaridia/Heterakis eggs were detected in 76.2%, 49.0%, and 26.5%, respectively. These results suggest that these parasites seem to be widespread in pheasants in Japan.