Strongyloides in non-human primates: significance for public health control

Abstract

Primates are an important source of infectious disease in humans. Strongyloidiasis affects an estimated 600 million people worldwide, with a global distribution and hotspots of infection in tropical and subtropical regions. Recently added to the list of neglected tropical diseases, global attention has been demanded in the drive for its control. Through a literature review of Strongyloides in humans and non-human primates (NHP), we analysed the most common identification methods and gaps in knowledge about this nematode genus. The rise of molecular-based methods for Strongyloides detection is evident in both humans and NHP and provides an opportunity to analyse all data available from primates. Dogs were also included as an important host species of Strongyloides and a potential bridge host between humans and NHP. This review highlights the lack of molecular data across all hosts—humans, NHP and dogs—with the latter highly underrepresented in the database. Despite the cosmopolitan nature of Strongyloides , there are still large gaps in our knowledge for certain species when considering transmission and pathogenicity. We suggest that a unified approach to Strongyloides detection be taken, with an optimized, repeatable molecular-based method to improve our understanding of this parasitic infection. This article is part of the Theo Murphy meeting issue ‘ Strongyloides : omics to worm-free populations’.

Risk-Based Gastrointestinal Parasite Control in a Tropical Zoological Institute

“…Like many other non-human primates under human care, parasitic infections with Strongyloides spp. have been a perennial problem, as the parasite is capable of auto-infection and therefore maintains a constant level of infection in these animals [13,14]. Although not observed at MWG, Strongyloides spp.…”

Strongyloides : omics to worm-free populations

“…Eva Nosková, Kelly Sambucci, Klara Petrzelkova, Barbora Cervena, David Modry and Barbora Pafco discuss Strongyloides infections in humans and non-human primates, and highlight gaps in the currently available data and the importance of this information for understanding zoonosis transmission and pathogenicity (Pafko et al [33]).…”