Seasonal variations in gastrointestinal parasites excreted by the gray mouse lemur Microcebus murinus in Madagascar

Abstract

We describe seasonal variations in gastrointestinal parasites found in feces of the gray mouse lemur Microcebus murinus. Our study was carried out in the evergreen littoral forest of Mandena, Madagascar. Fecal samples from M. murinus caught during monthly trapping sessions were screened for eggs and larvae of intestinal parasites. Gastrointestinal parasite infection of M. murinus was characterized by parasite species richness, the prevalence of parasites, and the intensity of infection expressed as the number of parasite eggs, larvae, and cysts per g feces. We used a modification of the McMaster flotation egg counting technique to quantify parasite egg shedding. Parasite excretions changed seasonally when analyzed on the level of individual hosts. The number of parasite species and the abundance of parasite eggs and larvae in Microcebus feces were higher during the hot season than during the cold season. Reduced parasite excretion during the cold season could be due to environmental factors or to the ability of M. murinus to enter torpor and hibernation during the cold season, which might lead to reduced metabolism of intestinal parasites and might thus result in reduced shedding of eggs. No such variation was found when the analyses were based on samples of unknown origin.

How many species of whipworms do we share? Whipworms from man and other primates form two phylogenetic lineages

“…were reported from 10 families of primates across three continents (e.g. Michaud et al 2003, Phillips et al 2004, Clough 2010, Raharivololona and Ganzhorn 2010. Considering the diversity of Trichuris spp.…”

Temporal and demographic blood parasite dynamics in two free-ranging neotropical primates

“…Meta-analyses across species indicate that parasitism positively correlates with group size (Vitone et al., 2004, Rifkin et al., 2012), but this is modulated by the mode of transmission and mobility of the parasites in question (Cote and Poulin, 1995). In addition to these host-specific factors, when longitudinal data are available, studies of parasite prevalence in diverse taxa demonstrate temporal effects of season (Huffman et al., 1997, Raharivololona and Ganzhorn, 2010) and year (Bakuza and Nkwengulila, 2009, Clough et al., 2010, Moreno et al., 2013). …”

Effects of anthropogenic disturbance on indri (Indri indri) health in Madagascar

“…Health assessments have been completed on a number of lemur species [Clough, 2010;Dutton et al, 2003Dutton et al, , 2008Garell & Meyers, 1995;Irwin et al, 2010;Junge & Garrell, 1995;Junge & Louis, 2002, 2005a,b, 2007Junge et al, 2008;Miller et al, 2007;Raharivololona, 2006;Raharivololona & Ganzhorn, 2009, 2010Rainwater et al, 2009;Wright et al, 2009]. However, when compared with other primates, there is a need for more data on the impacts of human disturbance on lemur health as well as an expanded inventory of lemur parasites [Irwin & Raharison, 2009;Raharivololona & Ganzhorn, 2010]. Indri are threatened primarily from habitat loss and fragmentation as a result of agriculture, logging, hunting, and mining within Madagascar [Britt et al, 2002].…”