title: Cryptosporidium sp. and Giardia sp. infections in mountain gorillas (Gorilla gorilla beringei) of the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda.
abstract: For conservation purposes and because of growing ecotourism, some mountain gorilla (Gorilla gorilla beringei) populations have been habituated to humans. Fecal specimens (n = 100) of nonhabituated and human-habituated gorillas (5 populations; 6 age classes) were tested for Cryptosporidium sp. oocysts and Giardia sp. cysts by conventional staining and immunofluorescent antibody (IFA). Cryptosporidium sp. infections (prevalence 11%) were not restricted to very young gorillas but were observed in 3-yr-old to >12-yr-old gorillas; most of the infections (73%) occurred in human-habituated gorillas. The prevalence of Giardia sp. infections was 2%; 1 nonhabituated gorilla was concomitantly infected. Oocysts of Cryptosporidium sp. in the gorilla stools were morphologically, morphometrically, and immunologically undistinguishable from a bovine isolate of Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts. Mean concentration of Cryptosporidium sp. oocysts and Giardia sp. cysts in gorilla stools was 9.39x10(4)/g, and 2.49x10(4)/g, respectively. There was no apparent relationship between oocyst concentration and gorilla age, sex, or habituation status. Most Cryptosporidium sp. infections found in gorillas with closest proximity to people may be a result of the habituation process and ecotourism. This study constitutes the first report of Cryptosporidium sp. infections in the family Pongidae, in the free-ranging great apes, and in the species of gorilla.
authors.affiliation: Department of Wildlife and Animal Resource Management, Makerere University, Kampala-Uganda.
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Nizeyi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mwebe
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nanteza
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Cranfield
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Kalema
authors.forename: T K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Graczyk
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018420:Ape Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002417:Cattle; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D003458:Cryptosporidium / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique / Q000662:veterinary; D005872:Giardia / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005873:Giardiasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D006071:Gorilla gorilla / Q000469:parasitology*; D010270:Parasite Egg Count / Q000662:veterinary; D015995:Prevalence; D014454:Uganda / Q000453:epidemiology