Effect of urbanization on zoonotic gastrointestinal parasite prevalence in endemic toque macaque (Macaca sinica) from different climatic zones in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Understanding variations in host-parasite relationships with urbanization is vital for both, public health management and conservation of endemic animals with high anthropogenic interactions. Toque macaques ( Macaca sinica ) are such endemic old-world monkeys in Sri Lanka. Three macaque sub species inhabit the main climatic zones of the island; M . s. sinica , M . s. aurifrons and M . s. opisthomelas inhabit the dry zone, wet zone, and montane regions of the island, respectively. This study aimed to examine parasite prevalence in this host in association with urbanization. A total of 180 fecal samples were collected from the three sub species of toque macaques inhabiting the main climatic zones (dry, wet, and montane) in Sri Lanka; 20 samples each were collected from urban, suburban, and wild populations representing each climatic zone. Twenty gastrointestinal (GI) parasite genera types i.e . five types of protozoan cysts, two types of trematode ova, four types of cestode ova, eight types of nematode ova, and a single type of acanthocephalan ova were identified. The overall prevalence of parasites was 62% (112/180) with the highest prevalence of Strongyloides infection. In all three sub species, toque macaque populations with proximity to human settlements, including urban and suburban populations, manifested a greater GI parasitic prevalence, mean ova/cyst counts and species richness, compared to their wild counterparts. Importantly, records of five parasite types in toques in Sri Lanka are reported for the first time, while Moniliformis type was reported as a first record in free ranging macaques, globally. This study clearly demonstrated that human contact and habitat modification may influence patterns of parasitic infections in macaques. As most of the parasite types identified manifest zoonotic potential, with public health implications, close associations of macaques may cause a threat to human well-being.

Novel insight into the genetic diversity of strongylid nematodes infecting South-East and East Asian primates

“…There are records of unspecified Trichostrongylus sp. based on the presence of eggs in various Asian macaque species (Kumar et al ., 2018 ; Kurniawati et al ., 2020 ; Fernando et al ., 2022 ). Although humans and some African cercopithecoid primates are occasionally reported with Trichostrongylus colubriformis infection (Phosuk et al ., 2013 ; Sharifdini et al ., 2017 ; Obanda et al ., 2019 ), and apparently there are Trichostrongylus spp.…”

Nanotechnology for Therapy of Zoonotic Diseases: A Comprehensive Overview

“…Zoonotic infections can be transmitted via animal bites and occur as a severe public health issue in developed and underdeveloped countries. [194] It is a serious health problem and a major challenge in the biomedical and pharmaceutical industries because a surge in the ongoing evolution of antibiotic/drug resistance is occurring. Nanomaterials can exert their innate antimicrobial action, and synthesizing nanoparticles while conjugating them with antimicrobials lead to synergistic antibacterial action, cost-effectiveness, and higher stability for a longer period.…”

“…Zoonotic infections can be transmitted via animal bites and occur as a severe public health issue in developed and underdeveloped countries [194] . It is a serious health problem and a major challenge in the biomedical and pharmaceutical industries because a surge in the ongoing evolution of antibiotic/drug resistance is occurring.…”

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“…In this sense, some helminth infections, especially those low-host-specific and directly transmitted, may pose a threat to endangered avian populations living in altered environmental conditions and/or in individuals with other concomitant infections (e.g., bacteria, viruses) [13][14][15]. This is the reason why there is an increasing interest in understanding changes in helminth community structures and infection rates in wildlife living in natural and human-altered habitats [16][17][18].…”