Cryptosporidium, Giardia and microsporidia in Indonesian orangutans
| Authors | |
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| Year of publication | 2014 |
| Type | Conference abstract |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Description | Over the last century orangutan numbers have decreased dramatically. Sumatran orangutans (Pongo abelii) are red-listed by IUCN as critically endangered and Bornean (Pongo pygmaeus) as endangered. Apart from habitat encroachment, trade and hunting, opportunistic parasites can pose one of the important threats to orangutan populations. In total, 790 fecal samples from Sumatran and Bornean orangutans from different sites were molecularly screened for the presence of Encephalitozoon, Enterecytozoon bieneusi, Cryptosporidium and Giardia. Sequences analyses determined 66 positive individuals for above mentioned infections. Out of them, 44 animals were positive for microsporidia, namely 27 animals were infected with Encephalitozoon cuniculi genotype II, 7 with E. cuniculi genotype III, 9 with Enterocytozoon bieneusi genotype D and 1 with E. bieneusi genotype B. Moreover, Cryptosporidium muris was identified in 19 orangutans, C. parvum and C. tyzzeri-like in one animal each. One orangutan was positive for the presence of G. intestinalis. These parasites have been detected in orangutans for the first time. |
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