A survey of gastrointestinal helminths in Baboons (Papio Cynocephalus) and warthogs (Phacochoerus africanus) at Saadani National Park, Bagamoyo, Tanzania

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was conducted in August and September 2013 to establish the status of gastrointestinal helminths affecting yellow baboons and warthogs at Saadani National Park (SANAPA). Baboon (n=48) and warthog (n=30) freshly defecated faeces were opportunistically collected from the ground and examined for helminth eggs using wet smear preparation and McMaster counting techniques. All 48 yellow baboon faecal samples had different species of helminths namely Oesophagostomum (100.0%), Strongyloides (72.9%), Trichuris (58.3%), Physaloptera (54.2%) and Trichostrongylus (52.1%). Twenty nine percent of some helminth eggs observed were not identified. Up to 75% of the baboon samples had more than one species of helminth eggs. The mean±SDev helminth egg counts in yellow baboon samples was 1213.5 ± 1038.8 eggs per gram (EPG) with Oesophagostomum spp. having the highest mean±SDev egg count (509.4 ± 665 EPG) compared to the rest. In warthogs, 19 out of 30 (63.3%) faecal samples had helminth eggs. The species identified were Strongyloides (63.3%), Oesophagostomum (16.7%) and Trichostrongylus (10.0%). The observed high worm burden in yellow baboons and warthogs of SANAPA show that wild animals are the resevoirs of gastrointestinal parasites and could serve as potential sources of infestations to domestic animals and humans.

Keywords: gastrointestinal helminths, baboons, EPG, warthogs, Saadani