Do Cryptosporidium spp., Encephalitozoon spp., Enterocytozoon bieneusi and Giardia spp. Pose Any Risk to Orangutans?
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| Year of publication | 2015 |
| Type | Conference abstract |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
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| Description | The orangutans (Pongo abelii and Pongo pygmaeus) are critically endangered mainly as the result of loss and fragmentation of their natural habitat which leads to their closer contact with human population and consequently to the higher risk of pathogen transmission. Consequently, this proximity can pose another serious threat as orangutans are susceptible to many human pathogens and vice versa. Therefore, two hundred and twenty seven orangutans at six different sites on Sumatra and Borneo were sampled to the occurrence of Cryptosporidium spp., Encephalitozoon spp., Enterocytozoon bieneusi and Giardia spp. Out of the total of 228 examined animals 37 were positive for tested parasites (16.2 %). The most prevalent was Encephalitozoon cuniculi genotype II found in 25 animals (11 %); Enterocytozoon bieneusi genotype D was detected in seven individuals (3.1 %) and Cryptosporidium spp., including C. muris and C. parvum type A and B, in eight animals (3.5 %). To the best of our knowledge, these parasites were documented in orangutans for the first time. Giardia intestinalis was identified in single individual (assemblage B, subtype MB6). The most of Cryptosporidium spp. infections were detected in individuals with close human contact. In addition, the findings revealed higher prevalence of E. cuniculi at localities on Sumatra. Acknowledgment: Funded by Grant Agency of the Czech Republic (P505-11-1163) and Foundation \UMI-Saving of Pongidae". |
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