Diversity and prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in seven non-human primates of the Taï National Park, Côte d’Ivoire

• Published in: Parasite (Paris) 2015, Vol.22, p.1-1
• Main Authors: Kouassi, Roland Yao Wa, McGraw, Scott William, Yao, Patrick Kouassi, Abou-Bacar, Ahmed, Brunet, Julie, Pesson, Bernard, Bonfoh, Bassirou, N’goran, Eliezer Kouakou, Candolfi, Ermanno
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acetic acid; Animal populations; Animals; Biodiversity; Cercocebus atys; Cercopithecidae - parasitology; Cercopithecus campbelli; Cercopithecus diana; Cercopithecus petaurista; Colobus polykomos; Cote d'Ivoire; Cysts; Côte d’Ivoire; Dicrocoelium; Diversity indices; Eggs; Endolimax nana; Entamoeba coli; Entamoeba hartmanni; Entamoeba histolytica; Ethyl acetate; Feces - parasitology; Forests; Formaldehyde; Gastrointestinal Diseases - epidemiology; Gastrointestinal Diseases - parasitology; Gastrointestinal Diseases - veterinary; Gastrointestinal parasites; Giardia; Identification methods; Infectious diseases; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic - epidemiology; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic - parasitology; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic - veterinary; Iodamoeba; Iodine; Monkey Diseases - epidemiology; Monkey Diseases - parasitology; Monkeys; Morphology; National parks; Nematodes; Non-human primates; Parasites; Populations; Prevalence; Primates; Procolobus badius; Procolobus verus; Protozoa; Species; Species diversity; Strongyloides; Taxa
• ISSN: 1776-1042; 1252-607X; 1776-1042
• DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2015001

Parasites and infectious diseases are well-known threats to primate populations. The main objective of this study was to provide baseline data on fecal parasites in the cercopithecid monkeys inhabiting Côte d’Ivoire’s Taï National Park. Seven of eight cercopithecid species present in the park were sampled: Cercopithecus diana, Cercopithecus campbelli, Cercopithecus petaurista, Procolobus badius, Procolobus verus, Colobus polykomos, and Cercocebus atys. We collected 3142 monkey stool samples between November 2009 and December 2010. Stool samples were processed by direct wet mount examination, formalin-ethyl acetate concentration, and MIF (merthiolate, iodine, formalin) concentration methods. Slides were examined under microscope and parasite identification was based on the morphology of cysts, eggs, and adult worms. A total of 23 species of parasites was recovered including 9 protozoa (Entamoeba coli, Entamoeba histolytica/dispar, Entamoeba hartmanni, Endolimax nana, Iodamoeba butschlii, Chilomastix mesnili, Giardia sp., Balantidium coli, and Blastocystis sp.), 13 nematodes (Oesophagostomum sp., Ancylostoma sp., Anatrichosoma sp., Capillariidae Gen. sp. 1, Capillariidae Gen. sp. 2, Chitwoodspirura sp., Subulura sp., spirurids [cf Protospirura muricola], Ternidens sp., Strongyloides sp., Trichostrongylus sp., and Trichuris sp.), and 1 trematode (Dicrocoelium sp.). Diversity indices and parasite richness were high for all monkey taxa, but C. diana, C. petaurista, C. atys, and C. campbelli exhibited a greater diversity of parasite species and a more equitable distribution. The parasitological data reported are the first available for these cercopithecid species within Taï National Park. Les maladies parasitaires et infectieuses sont des menaces très connues pour les populations de primates. L’objectif principal de cette étude était de fournir des données de base sur les parasites intestinaux des primates non-humains du Parc National de Taï en Côte d’Ivoire. Sept des huit espèces de cercopithécidés vivant dans le parc ont été échantillonnées : Cercopithecus diana, Cercopithecus campbelli, Cercopithecus petaurista, Procolobus badius, Procolobus verus, Colobus polykomos and Cercocebus atys. Nous avons collecté 3142 échantillons de selles de singes de novembre 2009 à décembre 2010. Les échantillons de selles ont été traités par la technique d’examen direct, les méthodes de concentration formol-éthyl acétate et MIF (merthiolate, iode, formol). Les lames ont été exa