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Occurrence of Giardia and Cryptosporidium in captive chimpanzees ( Pan troglodytes ), mandrills ( Mandrillus sphinx ) and wild Zanzibar red colobus monkeys ( Procolobus kirkii )
Author(s) -
Debenham John J.,
Atencia Rebeca,
Midtgaard Fred,
Robertson Lucy J.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of medical primatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.31
H-Index - 42
eISSN - 1600-0684
pISSN - 0047-2565
DOI - 10.1111/jmp.12158
Subject(s) - cryptosporidium , giardia , biology , zoology , veterinary medicine , feces , microbiology and biotechnology , medicine
Abstract Background The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of G iardia duodenalis and C ryptosporidium spp. in primates and determine their zoonotic or anthropozoonotic potential. Methods Direct immunofluorescence was used to identify G iardia and C ryptosporidium from faecal samples. PCR and DNA sequencing was performed on positive results. Results Giardia cysts were identified from 5.5% (5/90) of captive chimpanzees and 0% (0/11) of captive mandrills in the R epublic of C ongo; 0% (0/10) of captive chimpanzees in N orway; and 0% of faecal samples (n = 49) from wild Z anzibar red colobus monkeys. Two G iardia positive samples were also positive on PCR , and sequencing revealed identical isolates of A ssemblage B . C ryptosporidium oocysts were not detected in any of the samples. Conclusions In these primate groups, in which interactions with humans and human environments are quite substantial, G iardia and C ryptosporidium are rare pathogens. In chimpanzees, G iardia may have a zoonotic or anthropozoonotic potential.