Parasites Found From the Feces of Bornean Orangutans in Danum Valley, Sabah, Malaysia, with a Redescription of Pongobius hugoti and the Description of a New Species of Pongobius (Nematoda: Oxyuridae)

Abstract

In order to obtain basic data on parasitic infections of Bornean orangutans, Pongo pygmaeus morio (Owen, 1837), in Danum Valley, Sabah, Malaysia, fecal examinations were conducted. Based on a total of 73 fecal samples from 25 individuals, cysts of Entamoeba coli, Entamoeba spp., and Chilomastix mesnili, cysts and trophozoites of Balantidium coli, and eggs of Trichuris sp. or spp., unknown strongylid(s), Strongyloides fuelleborni, and an unknown oxyurid, plus a rhabditoid larva of Strongyloides sp., were found. Mature and immature worms of Pongobius hugoti Baruš et al., 2007 and Pongobius foitovae n. sp. (Oxyuridae: Enterobiinae) were recovered from fecal debris and described. Pongobius foitovae is readily distinguished from P. hugoti by having a much longer esophageal corpus, a longer and distally hooked spicule in males, and a more posteriorly positioned vulva in female. Presence of plural species of non- Enterobius pinworms is a remarkable feature of the orangutan-pinworm relationship, which may reflect speciation process of the orangutans, host switching, and coevolution by pinworms.

Gastrointestinal parasites of zoonotic importance observed in the wild, urban, and captive populations of non‐human primates in Malaysia

“…Two major groups (protozoan and helminths) and four classes from the helminths group, namely nematodes, cestodes, trematodes, and pentastomida were major taxa groups of GI parasites that infect NHP during this study. This current finding is consistent with those reported as infecting NHP species in Malaysia and worldwide . Thus, all taxa groups recorded in this study were common groups infecting NHP and other animals including humans.…”

“…Gastrointestinal parasites have been reported in previous studies, among them NHP species, N. coucang , M. arctoides , M. fascicularis , M. nemestrina , N . larvatus , T. cristatus , T. obscurus , H. lar , S. syndactylus, and P. pygmaeus , except for P. rubicunda and H. agilis . Thus, this study showed the first report on the examination for GI parasites for P. rubicunda and H. agilis .…”

“…Besides that, little information is known on the prevalence of GI parasites in the NHP in Malaysia . There is a grave lack of similar studies related to the survey and the prevalence of GI parasites in different NHP populations, and most were reported on the captivity and wild populations of NHP . None of the studies were related directly with GI parasites on urban cases except for individual case reports in Malaysia .…”

“…None of the studies were related directly with GI parasites on urban cases except for individual case reports in Malaysia . Although some basic data on the diversity and prevalence of parasites are available, a limited number of NHP species and/or GI species was investigated . Such studies will not only benefit preventive medicine, but also in captive NHP management and conservation of the wild population.…”

Lignes directrices pour de meilleures pratiques en matière de suivi de la santé et de contrôle des maladies des populations de grands singes

“…(Gillespie et al 2009 ;Hogan et al 2014 ;Sak et al 2014 ;Parsons et al 2015). Bien que la plupart des espèces d'amibes infectant les grands singes ne soient pas pathogènes, il y a quelques exceptions : Entamoeba histolytica et Neobalantidium coli ont été décrites chez différents primates circulant librement, y compris des chimpanzés, des gorilles et des orangs-outans qui partagent le même habitat que l'homme (Mul et al 2007 ;Gillespie et al 2010 ;Kuze et al 2010 ;Hassell et al 2013 ;Zommers et al 2013).…”