Prevalence of concurrent balantidosis and giardoosis among captive chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) and drills (Mandrillus leucophaeus) at the afi mountain primate sanctuary in Calabar, Nigeria

Abstract

A study on the prevalence of concurrent balantidosis and giardiosis and associated parasitic load among captive chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) and drills (Mandrillus leucophaeus) was carried out at the Drill Ranch located in the Afi mountain primate conservation area in Calabar, Nigeria. Out of the 65 primates examined 16 (88.89%) of the drills (Mandrillus leucophaeus) had significantly (P < 0.05) higher prevalence of infection than 27 (57.45%) of the chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). Oocyst counts (opg) 850 ± 0.09 due to B. coli was significantly higher (P < 0.05) among the chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) than a count of 600.2 ± 0.35 among the drills (Mandrillus leucophaeus). Similarly, on one hand, trophozoite counts due to B. coli was higher (P < 0.05) among the chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) than among the drills (Mandrillus leucophaeus) while on the other hand, oocyst or trophozoite counts due to G. lamblia was moderate among the two species of primates. There was no variation (P > 0.05) among sex or age groups except in the young chimpanzees (< 12 months) of age that showed higher prevalence of infection (P < 0.05) than the adults. From the foregoing, the results show that concurrent balantidosis and giardiosis can occur synergistically in captive primates and may also be a source of parasitic zoonosis to human attendants on one hand and tourist on the other hand.

Keywords: Balantidosis, giardiosis, concurrent infection, chimpanzees, drills

Sahel Journal of Veterinary Sciences Vol. 7 (1) 2008: pp. 32-36