Gastrointestinal Parasites in Captive Animals at the Rio de Janeiro Zoo

Abstract

Background Gastrointestinal parasites may determine diarrhea, dysentery or even death in captive mammals. These animals tend to be more susceptible to parasitic infections due to confinement and stress. Purpose To increase the information about these etiological agents in captive animals in Brazil, the gastrointestinal parasites of the captive mammals of the Rio de Janeiro Zoo were investigated. Methods From 2016 to 2018, 180 fecal samples were collected from animals housed in the Rio de Janeiro Zoo: 63 from animals of the order Primates, 26 of Carnivora, 78 of Artiodactyla, 9 of Perissodactyla and 4 of the order Rheiformes. The feces were processed by direct examination and by the techniques of Faust et al., Sheather, Ritchie, Lutz, and smears were stained with safranin. Immunoenzymatic assays were also performed to investigate antigens of Giardia duodenalis, Cryptosporidium spp., Entamoeba histolytica/Entamoeba dispar. Results Parasite positivity was identified in 68.3% of the fecal samples, with a parasite positivity rate of 68.2% among primates, 65.3% among carnivores, 69.2% among artiodactyls, 33.3% among perissodactyls, and 100% among rheiformes. The most frequently detected parasite was Entamoeba histolytica/E. dispar antigens, which showed a statistically significant positivity rate (33.3%; p = 0.000), particularly in the feces of carnivores (30.7%) and artiodactyls (53.8%). A statistically significant positivity rate of Balantioides coli (11.1%; p = 0.001) was also detected in feces from nonhuman primates, tapirs, collared peccaries and rheas. The positivity of Cryptosporidium sp. antigens in feces of the orders Carnivora, Artiodactyla and Primates was also statistically significant (7.2%, p = 0.010). Oocysts compatible with Cryptosporidium spp. were detected in 6.3% from primates. The helminths most frequently detected were thin-shelled eggs of nematodes (17.7%, p = 0.000), nematode larvae (15.5%, p = 0.000) and Trichuris trichiura eggs (6.1%, p = 0.018). ConclusionThe positivity rate for gastrointestinal parasites demonstrates the need for a sanitation management program to be implemented in the zoo, including routine diagnostic parasitology tests followed by specific treatment for each parasitosis.

Intestinal Protists in Captive Non-human Primates and Their Handlers in Six European Zoological Gardens. Molecular Evidence of Zoonotic Transmission

“…The parasite has also been linked to decrease microbial diversity and increase community dissimilarity in the gut microbiome of susceptible NHP hosts (42). Cryptosporidium infection rates have been typically reported in the range of 3-6% in NHP species including baboons, gibbons, macaques, and orangutans (41,(43)(44)(45)(46)(47)(48). Other surveys failed to detect the parasite in their captive NHP collections (13,29,(49)(50)(51)(52)(53).…”

“…In addition, the presence and abundance of B. coli has been linked with the quality of lactation milk samples in captive rhesus macaques ( 96 ). Infections by B. coli in captive NHP have been reported at rates of 13% in Belgium ( 64 ), of 11% in Brazil ( 48 ), of 22% in Italy ( 50 ), and of 4% in Spain ( 13 ). In a large multicentre study involving 11 zoological institutions in Europe and two sanctuaries in Africa, an overall B. coli occurrence rate of 50% was found in great apes including chimpanzees, bonobos, and gorillas.…”

Gastrointestinal parasites in wild and exotic animals from a zoo in the State of Bahia, Brazil - first record

“…Coproparasitological assessments in Brazilian zoos are sparse and spaced (Barbosa et al, 2019), with records for the states of Goiás (Melo et al, 2021), São Paulo (Hofstatter & Guaraldo, 2015;Rodrigues et al, 2020), Paraíba (Batista et al, 2021), Paraná (Hofstatter & Guaraldo, 2015;Snak et al, 2017) Rio de Janeiro (Barros et al, 2017;Barbosa et al, 2019), Rio Grande do Sul (Mewius et al, 2021), Santa Catarina (Muller et al, 2005 and Sergipe (Santos et al, 2022).…”

Detection of Trichuris eggs in feces and soil from giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) and other hoofstock enclosures under human care in the USA

“…are common nematode parasites found in a variety of host species. In zoos and conservation reserves, Trichuris eggs are commonly found on routine hoofstock fecal detection ( Mir et al, 2016 ; Pauling et al, 2016 ; da Silva Barbosa et al, 2020 ), including in giraffe ( Giraffa camelopardalis ) ( VanderWaal et al, 2014 ; Kyriánová et al, 2017 ). Trichuris in giraffe is a consistent clinical finding for wildlife institutions worldwide ( Bertelsen, 2015 ).…”