Studies have shown that as age increases, parasitism could also be more frequent, on the other hand, the lack of immunity can increase the risk of infection in younger individuals. Regarding sex, there is a general tendency for males to be more parasitized than females, in the case of primates, this is related to the effort made by males into attaining and maintain a high rank, implying high levels of testosterone, a hormone with immunosuppressive effects. Immunosuppressive effects of stress hormones can also increase susceptibility in dominant or subordinate individuals, nevertheless, in a study, the level of exposure to parasites seems to be more important than the immunosuppressive effects of stress in explaining why dominant females have more infections from directly transmitted parasites. In this study, we investigated the relationship between the prevalence of Giardia spp. and Blastocystis spp. and the categories of age and sex in black and golden howler monkeys (Alouatta caraya) of Argentina. We analyzed 375 fecal samples from 27 individuals (juveniles and adults of both sexes), using microscopy and techniques of flotation and sedimentation. To analyze the relationship between age, sex, and infection prevalence, a Generalized Linear Mixed Model was used. In adults, the prevalence of infection was 78.5 % while in juveniles, all individuals (100 %) were infected with both protozoa. Males had a infection prevalence 84.6%, in females it was 92.8 %. When comparing infection prevalence between ages and between sexes, no significant differences were found (P > 0.05). Research suggests that parasite infection rates may be influenced by specific form of transmission, in this sense, these protozoa, are transmitted through ingestion of cysts which are infectious immediately after defecation has occurred. On the other hand, all members of the group tend to defecate simultaneously, leaving all the members of the group exposed to infection. Therefore, we suggest that physiological or behavioral factors do not appear to be important in the risk of protozoan infection.
<p>El presente trabajo tuvo como objetivo evaluar los parásitos gastrointestinales de equinos procedentes de ocho localidades de la Provincia de Corrientes, Argentina. Mediante técnicas de concentración se examinaron 30 muestras fecales a fin de identificar los helmintos y protozoos, así como estimar la prevalencia general y específica. Se registró una prevalencia general de P=50% y se identificaron cuatro taxones (S=4) representados por dos protozoos, Blastocystis sp (P=3,3%) y Eimeria sp (P=16,6%) y dos nematodes, Strongylus sp (P=13%) y Cyathostomun sp (P=20%). La mayoría de los reportes sobre parásitos en equinos se refieren a nematodes, por lo que el registro de protozoos es un aporte novedoso al conocimiento sobre el tema. Respecto a los nematodes identificados, han sido reportados en diferentes provincias argentinas y los grandes estróngilos representan los de menor prevalencia, mientras que los pequeños estróngilos, género Cyathostomun, los de mayor prevalencia. Los resultados obtenidos acrecientan el conocimiento sobre la temática y ponen en relieve la necesidad de implementar medidas sanitarias a fin de controlar la transmisión y mantener las cargas parasitarias por debajo de niveles que potencialmente afecten la salud, productividad o performance de los equinos.</p>
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