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Abstract Background: Primates can harbour parasites that could be pathogenic or not for humans and primates themselves. It is necessary to know the parasitological situation of the primates that are under surveillance in the park. Aim: The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence and diversity of gastrointestinal parasites, including zoonotic potential parasites, in baboons in the Niokolo-Koba National Park located in Senegal. Method: Faecal samples (n=50) from two groups of Baboons (A and B) were collected in October 2019. Faecal samples were processed using the flotation technique and the modified Ritchie method. Slides were examined microscopically, and the parasite identification was based on morphology, colour, and parasite content. Results: A total of seven nematodes (Strongyloides sp., Trichirus sp., Ancylostoma sp., Mammo monogamus, Enterobius sp., Strongyloides stercoralis, Strongle digestif), one cestode (Bertiella sp.) and one trematode (Fasciolopsis sp.) were identified. The overall prevalence was 78% while poly-infestation prevalence was 49%. The parasite with zoonotic potential, Strongyloides stercoralis, was identified in group B samples. Trichuris sp. which is common and pathogenic to humans and primates was present with a prevalence of 52% and of 32% in groups A and B, respectively. Conclusion: These results suggest that baboons are infested with zoonotic parasites and this situation could expose people working in this park to infection. Contact between humans and these baboons or their faeces could expose to infection with zoonotic parasites.
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Ecology eclipses phylogeny as a major driver of nematode parasite community structure in a graminivorous primate
Abstract Understanding how ecology and phylogeny shape parasite communities can inform parasite control and wildlife conservation initiatives while contributing to the study of host species evolution.We tested the relative strengths of phylogeny and ecology in driving parasite community structure in a host whose ecology diverges significantly from that of its closest phylogenetic relatives.We characterized the gastrointestinal (GI) parasite community of wild geladasTheropithecus gelada, primates that are closely related to baboons but specialized to graminovory in the Ethiopian Highlands.Geladas exhibited very constrained GI parasite communities: only two genera (OesophagostomumandTrichostrongylus) were identified across 305 samples. This is far below the diversity reported for baboons (Papiospp.) and at the low end of the range of domestic grazers (e.g.Bos taurus,Ovis aries) inhabiting the same region and ecological niche.Using deep amplicon sequencing, we identified 15 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) within the two genera, seven of which matched toOesophagostomumsp., seven toTrichostrongylussp., and one toT. vitrinus.Population was an important predictor of ASV richness. Geladas in the most ecologically disturbed area of the national park exhibited approximately four times higher ASV richness than geladas at a less disturbed location within the park.In this system, ecology was a stronger predictor of parasite community structure than was phylogeny, with geladas sharing more elements of their parasite communities with other grazers in the same area than with closely related sister taxa. A freePlain Language Summarycan be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
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- PAR ID:
- 10456867
- Publisher / Repository:
- Wiley-Blackwell
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Functional Ecology
- Volume:
- 34
- Issue:
- 9
- ISSN:
- 0269-8463
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- p. 1898-1906
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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