GIARDIA IN MOUNTAIN GORILLAS (GORILLA BERINGEI BERINGEI), FOREST BUFFALO (SYNCERUS CAFFER), AND DOMESTIC CATTLE IN VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK, RWANDA

Abstract

ABSTRACT:Mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) are critically endangered primates surviving in two isolated populations in protected areas within the Virunga Massif of Rwanda, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda. Mountain gorillas face intense ecologic pressures due to their proximity to humans. Human communities outside the national parks, and numerous human activities within the national parks (including research, tourism, illegal hunting, and anti-poaching patrols), lead to a high degree of contact between mountain gorillas and wildlife, domestic animals, and humans. To assess the pathogen transmission potential between wildlife and livestock, feces of mountain gorillas, forest buffalo (Syncerus caffer nanus), and domestic cattle (Bos taurus) in Rwanda were examined for the parasites Giardia and Cryptosporidium. Giardia was found in 9% of mountain gorillas, 6% of cattle, and 2% of forest buffalo. Our study represents the first report of Giardia prevalence in forest buffalo. Cryptosporidium-like particles were also observed in all three species. Molecular characterization of Giardia isolates identified zoonotic genotype assemblage B in the gorilla samples and assemblage E in the cattle samples. Significant spatial clustering of Giardiapositive samples was observed in one sector of the park. Although we did not find evidence for transmission of protozoa from forest buffalo to mountain gorillas, the genotypes of Giardia samples isolated from gorillas have been reported in humans, suggesting that the importance of humans in this ecosystem should be more closely evaluated.

Diversity of Microsporidia, Cryptosporidium and Giardia in Mountain Gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda

“…We did not detect any species of protists previously identified in mountain gorillas, namely Giardia intestinalis , Cryptosporidium parvum and Encephalitozoon intestinalis [1]–[3], [32]–[34]. Although most of microsporidia species detected in our study (with exception of the novel genotypes) were already detected in western lowland gorillas [12], C. muris and C. meleagridis were identified in gorillas for the first time.…”

“…Since only limited work has been done to explore the molecular diversity of gastrointestinal parasites in mountain gorillas [1], [2], [32]–[34] we conducted a comprehensive molecular screening for Encephalitozoon spp., Enterocytozoon bieneusi , Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia spp.…”

First report of zoonotic Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia intestinalis and Enterocytozoon bieneusi in golden takins (Budorcas taxicolor bedfordi)

“…Occurrence of Cryptosporidium spp., G. intestinalis and E. bieneusi Cryptosporidium spp., G. intestinalis and E. bieneusi have been reported in several bovidae animals globally (Rinder et al, 2000;Giangaspero et al, 2005;Santín and Fayer, 2011;Lim et al, 2013;Abeywardena et al, 2013Abeywardena et al, , 2014Del Coco et al, 2014;Hogan et al, 2014;Mi et al, 2014;Wang et al, 2014b). In 2012, 47 faecal specimens from dairy cattle were examined by PCR in Shanghai, with 10, 24 and 17 positive for Cryptosporidium spp., G. intestinalis and E. bieneusi, respectively (Fayer et al, 2012).…”

An extensive burden of giardiasis associated with intestinal schistosomiasis and anaemia in school children on the shoreline of Lake Albert, Uganda

“…Across Uganda, formal reporting and surveillance of giardiasis is very scant [21][22][23] . While the disease is zoonotic in livestock and an important anthropozoonosis of the mountain gorilla 24,25 , the burden of giardiasis in school children is largely unknown, as are any associations with intestinal schistosomiasis.…”