Prevalence of gastro-intestinal parasites in primates and their keepers from two zoological gardens in Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract

A study was conducted to determine the levels of infestation of gastro-intestinal parasites in 36 non-human primates (NHP) and 19 zoo keepers at the University of Ibadan Zoological Garden (UIZG) and Agodi Zoological Garden (AZG) in Ibadan, Nigeria. Freshly passed faecal samples were collected from NHP, zoo keepers, and from apparently healthy individuals (control). The faecal samples were processed using standard parasitological techniques. Twenty-two (61.1%) out of 36 NHP at UIZG and AZG were infested with gastro-intestinal parasites. Infestations at UIZG and AZG were 61.3% and 60%, respectively. All the red patas, mangabey and mandrill monkeys and 90.9% (10/11) of the green monkeys were infested. There were higher infestation rates in young NHP than in adults (P<0.05). The infestation rate in males and females were the same (61.1%). The most prevalent gastro-intestinal parasites were Trichuris trichiura (47.2%), Strongyle spp(13.9%), Entamoeba spp (13.9%) and Stronglyloides spp (5.6%). Six (27.3%) of the infested NHP have mixed infestations. Only one of the 19 zoo keepers screened was infested with Ascaris lumbricoides and two (15.4%) of the 13 members of control group (non-zoological garden workers) were infested with Ancylostoma duodenale. There was no evidence of cross transmission of gastro-intestinal helminths between the NHP and the zoo keepers.Keywords: Gastro-intestinal parasites, Helminths, Infestation, Primates, Prevalence, Zoos

Prevalence and morphotype diversity of Trichuris species and other soil-transmitted helminths in captive non-human primates in northern Nigeria

“…Trichuris eggs were the most prevalent (70.5%) in the infected NHPs in this study. This finding is in accord with an earlier survey of NHPs in northern (Dawet et al 2013) and southern (Mbaya & Udendeye, 2011;Adetunji 2014) parts of Nigeria. High prevalence of Trichuris sp.…”

“…Single or mixed infections of zoonotic STHs have often been recorded in NHPs from different countries: Bangladesh (Raja et al 2014), Central African Republic (Hasegawa et al 2014), Tanzania (Petrželkova et al 2010), China (Li et al 2017), India (Hussain et al 2013), Sri Lanka (Aviruppola et al 2016), Malaysia (Klaus et al 2017), andSpain (Perez Corden et al 2008). Several studies have been carried out on the prevalence of helminth infection in NHPs in various zoological gardens and/or parks in the southern part of Nigeria: Oyo State (Adedokun et al 2002;Emikpe et al 2002;Adetunji 2014), Ondo State (Egbetade et al 2014), Cross River State (Mbaya & Udendeye 2011), and Imo state (Opara et al 2010). Comparatively, only a few studies have been conducted on the helminth infections of NHPs in northern Nigeria (Nwosu 1995;Mbaya & Nwosu 2006;Mbaya et al 2006a,b;Dawet et al 2013).…”

Parasitic infection in captive wild mammals and birds in Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Safari Park, Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh

“…The variation may be due to climatic condition, husbandry practice and feeding management of the study area. Environmental contamination could be through contaminated water or fodder, and even zoo workers have also been reported to play a role in transmission by acting as vectors and transmitting parasites through their shoes, clothes, hands, food, or with working tools (Adetunji 2014;Otegbade & Morenikeji 2014).…”

Prevalence and seasonal variation of gastrointestinal parasites among captive Northern Pig-tailed Macaque Macaca leonina (Mammalia: Primates: Cercopithecidae)

“…The nematodes and some coccidian parasites have a direct life cycle, without any intermediate host and are transmitted by feco-oral route through contaminated feed, water, and soil and have the potential to accumulate in a captive environment (Thawait et al 2014). The environmental contamination could be through contaminated water or fodder, and zoo workers have also been reported to play a role in transmission by acting as vectors and transmitting parasites through their shoes, clothes, hands, food, or with working tools (Adetunji 2014;Otegbade & Morenikeji 2014). Based on this study, it is recommended that upgraded and more effective regular preventive as well as prophylactic measures are needed to be included in the management schedule of these animals at regular interval.…”