Molecular Detection and Characterization of Intestinal and Blood Parasites in Wild Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) in Senegal

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  • Pamela C. Köster
  • Justinn Renelies‐hamilton
  • Laia Dotras
  • Manuel Llana
  • Celia Vinagre‐izquierdo
  • Petras Prakas
  • Donatas Sneideris
  • Alejandro Dashti
  • Begoña Bailo
  • Marta Lanza
  • Alejandra Jiménez‐Mejías
  • Carlota Muñoz‐García
  • Aly S. Muadica
  • David González‐Barrio
  • José M. Rubio
  • Isabel Fuentes
  • Francisco Ponce‐Gordo
  • Rafael Calero‐Bernal
  • David Carmena

Wild chimpanzee populations in West Africa (Pan troglodytes verus) have dramatically decreased as a direct consequence of anthropogenic activities and infectious diseases. Little information is currently available on the epidemiology, pathogenic significance, and zoonotic potential of protist species in wild chimpanzees. This study investigates the occurrence and genetic diversity of intestinal and blood protists as well as filariae in faecal samples (n = 234) from wild chimpanzees in the Dindefelo Community Nature Reserve, Senegal. PCR‐based results revealed the presence of intestinal potential pathogens (Sarcocystis spp.: 11.5%; Giardia duodenalis: 2.1%; Cryptosporidium hominis: 0.9%), protist of uncertain pathogenicity (Blastocystis sp.: 5.6%), and commensal species (Entamoeba dispar: 18.4%; Troglodytella abrassarti: 5.6%). Entamoeba histolytica, Enterocytozoon bieneusi, and Balantioides coli were undetected. Blood protists including Plasmodium malariae (0.4%), Trypanosoma brucei (1.3%), and Mansonella perstans (9.8%) were also identified. Sanger sequencing analyses revealed host‐adapted genetic variants within Blastocystis, but other parasitic pathogens (C. hominis, P. malariae, T. brucei, M. perstans) have zoonotic potential, suggesting that cross‐species transmission between wild chimpanzees and humans is possible in areas where both species overlap. Additionally, we explored potential interactions between intestinal/blood protist species and seasonality and climate variables. Chimpanzees seem to play a more complex role on the epidemiology of pathogenic and commensal protist and nematode species than initially anticipated.

Original languageEnglish
Article number3291
JournalAnimals
Volume11
Issue number11
Number of pages23
ISSN2076-2615
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2021

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

    Research areas

  • Conservation, Endangered, Epidemiology, Genotyping, Non‐human primates, PCR, Protists, Seasonality, Zoonoses

ID: 287070249