Health evaluation of translocated free‐ranging primates in French Guiana

Abstract

Among over 40 mammal species threatened by the filling of a hydroelectric dam reservoir in French Guiana, three species of primates have been translocated, comprising 124 red howler monkeys, six white-faced sakis, and 95 golden-handed tamarins. Health status of the animals was evaluated by direct physical examination and by hematological, biochemical, virological, and parasitological surveys of collected blood. The physical condition of the howlers was slightly worse toward the end of the capture period, but that of sakis and tamarins remained satisfactory. Several ectoparasites (ticks, larvae of dipterous insects, fleas, and lice) were collected, and various wounds, apparently nondebilitating, were recorded in howlers. Hematological and biochemical profiles determined for the three species revealed a slight anemia in howlers. Entamoeba, Strongyloides, and Trypanoxyurus were common in fecal samples of howlers. A survey of blood smears from the three species revealed infection by several types of microfilaria, Trypanosoma rangeli-like and Plasmodium brasilianum in all three, and Trypanosoma cruzi-like in howlers. These infections had no significant impact on the health status or the hematological profiles. Serologic investigations revealed occasional reactions against Toxoplasma gondii, a strong anti-Plasmodium response in the two Cebidae species, and a weaker one in tamarins. Attempts to isolate arbovirus failed, but antibody responses to Mayaro and yellow fever viruses were strong, especially in the howlers. A strong correlation between age and serological status led to a better understanding of the epidemic cycles. Our survey indicates French Guianan primates are reservoirs for several anthropozoonoses, including malaria, Chagas disease, and arboviruses.

Field Anesthesia and Health Assessment of Free-ranging Cebus capucinus in Panama

“…Several researchers have investigated the prevalence of specific diseases within and across species, e.g., malaria (Davies et al 1991;Nunn and Heymann 2005), but baseline data on the general health parameters of wild individuals are known for relatively few species: Propithecus tattersalli (Garell and Meyers 1995), Ateles paniscus chamek (Karesh et al 1998), Aloutta seniculus (Vie et al 1998), Pithecia pithecia and Saguinus midas (de Thoisy et al 2001), Lemur catta (Dutton et al 2003), Varecia variegata and V. rubra (Junge and Louis 2005b), Propithecus verreauxi deckeni and Eulemur fulvus rufus (Junge and Louis 2005a), and E. macaco macaco (Junge and Louis 2007).…”

Serological evidence for Saint Louis encephalitis virus in free-ranging New World monkeys and horses within the upper Paraná River basin region, Southern Brazil

“…The classical HI and MNT methodologies used during this investigation are based on the conventional serologic diagnosis of fl avivirus due to the presence of virus-specifi c antibodies in the serum. Similar serological strategies have been used to detect SLEV in primates 23 , white-tailed deer 19,29 , livestock 11 , mules 19 , and horses 8,10,11,17,18 . The importance of these results lies primarily in the observation of SLEV circulation in a completely new habitat within Brazil, considering that most cases of SLEV have been described within the Amazon region 4,[20][21][22] .…”

“…Additionally, a serological survey conducted in French Guiana detected low levels of SLEV antibodies in free-ranging primates 23 .…”

“…Alternatively, in a seroepidemiological survey conducted in French Guiana, primates had low antibody titers to SLEV (HI <40) but elevated titers to yellow fever (HI >320), and the authors suggested that that SLEV antibodies identifi ed could have been due to crossreactions with yellow fever virus 23 . Low titers of SLEV were also identifi ed in horses, livestock, and wildlife from the island of Trinidad 11 .…”

Evolutionary History of Terrestrial Pathogens and Endoparasites as Revealed in Fossils and Subfossils

“…Based on the earliest fossil record of their host group, an estimated date for the origin of hookworms would be in the Palaeocene [15]. Again, there is a good possibility that humans originally acquired infections from apes and simians since N. americanus has been found in chimpanzees [150] and A. duodenale infects Bonoboas [151] and Howler monkeys [146].…”