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Petrželková KJ, Uwamahoro C, Pafčo B, Červená B, Samaš P, Mudakikwa A, Muvunyi R, Uwingeli P, Gilardi K, Nziza J, Noheri JB, Eckardt W, Ndagijimana F, Ssebide B, Okwirokello R, Nizeyimana F, Syaluha EK, Nzayisenga G, Flores Girón L, Bahizi M, Ntwari AE, Lukusa JP, Tumushime JC, Mangura D, Mapilanga J, Kalonji A, Aruho R, Stryková A, Tehlarová Z, Cameira R, Lowenstine L, Šlapeta J, Romportl D, Ferrari N, Cranfield M, Modrý D. Heterogeneity in patterns of helminth infections across populations of mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei). Sci Rep 2021; 11:10869. [PMID: 34035316 PMCID: PMC8149636 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-89283-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Conservation efforts have led to the recovery of the endangered mountain gorilla populations. Due to their limited potential for spatial expansion, population densities increased, which may alter the epidemiology of infectious diseases. Recently, clinical gastrointestinal illnesses linked to helminth infections have been recorded in both gorilla populations. To understand drivers and patterns of helminth infections we quantified strongylid and tapeworm infections across both Virunga Massif and Bwindi populations using fecal egg counts. We assessed the impact of age, sex, group size, season and spatial differences used as a proxy, which reflects observed variation in the occurrence of gastrointestinal problems, vegetation types, gorilla subpopulation growth and associated social structure on helminth infections. We revealed striking geographic differences in strongylid infections with higher egg counts mostly in areas with high occurrences of gastrointestinal disease. Increased helminth egg counts were also associated with decreasing group size in some areas. Observed spatial differences may reflect mutual effects of variations in subpopulation growth rates, gorilla social structure, and vegetation associated with altitude across mountain gorilla habitat. Helminth infection intensities in Virunga gorillas were lowest in the youngest and the oldest animals. Elucidating parasite infection patterns of endangered species with low genetic diversity is crucial for their conservation management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Klara J. Petrželková
- grid.418095.10000 0001 1015 3316Institute of Vertebrate Biology, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic ,grid.418338.50000 0001 2255 8513Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic ,Liberec Zoo, Liberec, Czech Republic
| | | | - Barbora Pafčo
- grid.418095.10000 0001 1015 3316Institute of Vertebrate Biology, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Barbora Červená
- grid.418095.10000 0001 1015 3316Institute of Vertebrate Biology, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic ,Department of Pathology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Peter Samaš
- grid.418095.10000 0001 1015 3316Institute of Vertebrate Biology, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Antoine Mudakikwa
- grid.508147.f0000 0000 9490 3868Rwanda Development Board, Kigali, Rwanda
| | - Richard Muvunyi
- grid.508147.f0000 0000 9490 3868Rwanda Development Board, Kigali, Rwanda
| | - Prosper Uwingeli
- grid.508147.f0000 0000 9490 3868Rwanda Development Board, Kigali, Rwanda
| | | | - Julius Nziza
- grid.508041.8Gorilla Doctors (MGVP, Inc.), Davis, CA USA
| | | | | | | | - Benard Ssebide
- grid.508041.8Gorilla Doctors (MGVP, Inc.), Davis, CA USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Luis Flores Girón
- Centre de Recherche en Sciences Naturelles de Lwiro, Lwiro, Democratic Republic of Congo ,Lwiro Primate Rehabilitation Center, Democratic Republic of Congo and Ivan Carter Wildlife Conservation Alliance, Orlando, FL USA
| | - Méthode Bahizi
- grid.508041.8Gorilla Doctors (MGVP, Inc.), Davis, CA USA
| | | | | | | | - Damien Mangura
- grid.508041.8Gorilla Doctors (MGVP, Inc.), Davis, CA USA
| | - Jeff Mapilanga
- Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
| | - Arthur Kalonji
- Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature, Parc National de Kahuzi Biega, Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo
| | - Robert Aruho
- grid.463699.7Uganda Wildlife Authority, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Anna Stryková
- Department of Pathology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Zuzana Tehlarová
- grid.418095.10000 0001 1015 3316Institute of Vertebrate Biology, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Rita Cameira
- grid.418095.10000 0001 1015 3316Institute of Vertebrate Biology, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic ,Department of Pathology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Linda Lowenstine
- grid.27860.3b0000 0004 1936 9684School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA USA
| | - Jan Šlapeta
- grid.1013.30000 0004 1936 834XSydney School of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Dušan Romportl
- grid.4491.80000 0004 1937 116XDepartment of Physical Geography and Geoecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Nicola Ferrari
- grid.4708.b0000 0004 1757 2822Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy ,grid.4708.b0000 0004 1757 2822Research Center Epidemiology and Molecular Surveillance of Infections ‘‘EpiSoMI’’, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | | | - David Modrý
- grid.418338.50000 0001 2255 8513Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic ,Department of Pathology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic ,grid.10267.320000 0001 2194 0956Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
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Hreinsdóttir I, Hreinsdóttir A, Eydal M, Tysnes KR, Robertson LJ. Anoplocephala perfoliata Infection in Horses in Iceland: Investigation of Associations between Intensity of Infection and Lesions. J Parasitol 2019. [DOI: 10.1645/18-159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ingunn Hreinsdóttir
- Parasitology Lab., Department of Food Safety and Infection Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 369 sentrum, 0102 Oslo, Norway
| | - Audur Hreinsdóttir
- Parasitology Lab., Department of Food Safety and Infection Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 369 sentrum, 0102 Oslo, Norway
| | - Matthías Eydal
- Institute for Experimental Pathology at Keldur, University of Iceland, Keldnavegur 3, 112 Reykjavík, Iceland
| | - Kristoffer Relling Tysnes
- Parasitology Lab., Department of Food Safety and Infection Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 369 sentrum, 0102 Oslo, Norway
| | - Lucy J. Robertson
- Parasitology Lab., Department of Food Safety and Infection Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 369 sentrum, 0102 Oslo, Norway
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Engell-Sørensen K, Pall A, Damgaard C, Holmstrup M. Seasonal variation in the prevalence of equine tapeworms using coprological diagnosis during a seven-year period in Denmark. VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY- REGIONAL STUDIES AND REPORTS 2018; 12:22-25. [PMID: 31014802 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2018.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2017] [Revised: 11/23/2017] [Accepted: 01/10/2018] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
We investigated the prevalence of equine tapeworms, Anoplocephala spp., in Danish horses during a seven-year period assessed by coprological analysis. The data material included >11,000 observations distributed over the period 2009-2015, and four major geographic regions in Denmark representing sandy soils and clayey moraine soils, respectively. This allowed us to test for possible differences between regions (or soil types) and seasons. For a sub-set of the data (about 1200 observations) age of horses was also known, and it was shown that prevalence was highest in the age group 1-5years and then declined with age. We observed no significant difference in the prevalence of Anoplocephala spp. across the geographic regions suggesting that risk of infection was largely the same irrespective the soil types included in the study. Autumn was the season with highest prevalence. However, seasonality was not very marked, and our results show that egg-producing Anoplocephala spp. are found in Danish horses year-round.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Adina Pall
- Hestelaboratoriet, Terp Skovvej 107B, 8270 Højbjerg, Denmark
| | - Christian Damgaard
- Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Vejlsøvej 25, 8600 Silkeborg, Denmark
| | - Martin Holmstrup
- Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Vejlsøvej 25, 8600 Silkeborg, Denmark.
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Equine cestodosis: a sero-epidemiological study of Anoplocephala perfoliata infection in Ethiopia. Vet Res Commun 2012; 36:93-8. [PMID: 22294318 DOI: 10.1007/s11259-012-9516-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/13/2012] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
A 12/13 kDa antigen, tapeworm ELISA test, developed for use in horses, was used to detect parasite-specific serum antibody, IgG(T), in the serum of donkeys. In a pilot study the 12/13 kDa antigen was tested and proved to detect the antibody, IgG(T), in donkey sera. Blood samples from 797 donkeys, naturally exposed to cestode infection, from four geographical localities were collected and sera were prepared and analysed. There was substantial serological evidence that donkeys were potentially infected with A. perfoliata. A range of ELISA OD values were obtained from the serological assay. Over 26% and 7.5% of the donkeys were moderately and highly infected, respectively, showing at least a 34% sero-prevalence. The rest, 66.1%, were either with low infection intensity or negative for A. perfoliata infection. The risk of infections, both in sero-prevalence and intensity, as determined by ELISA optical density (OD), were highest in the highland areas of Ethiopia where pastures are low-lying and wet, and permanent pasture management is regularly practised. Sex, age and body condition of the donkeys had no significant effect either on prevalence of the infection or on the serum antibody level. These results indicate a risk of intestinal disorders, particularly, colic, associated with A. perfoliata infection in donkeys.
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