Anthropozoonotic Giardia duodenalis genotype (assemblage) a infections in habitats of free-ranging human-habituated gorillas, Uganda.
To facilitate ecotourism and research, free-ranging mountain gorillas of Uganda have been habituated to humans. Testing of fecal samples of gorillas (n = 100), people sharing gorilla habitats (n = 62). and local pre- and postweaned cattle (n = 50) having access to these habitats with fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated monoclonal antibodies revealed Giardia duodenalis cysts at prevalences of 2, 5, and 10%, respectively. The identification of G. duodenalis was confirmed by fluorescent in situ hybridization with 2 species-specific 18-bp oligonucleotide probes conjugated to hexachlorinated 6-carboxyfluorescein. The mean pathogen concentration was 2.5, 2.8, and 0.2 x 10(4) cysts/g of the gorilla, people, and cattle feces, respectively. All cyst isolates aligned with genotype (assemblage) A, as confirmed by polymerase chain reaction amplification and sequencing of a 130-bp region near the 5' end of the small subunit-ribosomal RNA gene. A single genotype (assemblage) A recovered from 3 genetically distant but geographically united host groups indicates anthropozoonotic transmission of G. duodenalis. A large percentage of the local community does not follow park regulations regarding the disposal of their fecal waste, as self-reported in a questionnaire. This genotype may have been introduced into gorilla populations through habituation activities and may have then been sustained in their habitats by anthropozoonotic transmission.
Graczyk
Thaddeus K
TK
The W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA. tgraczyk@jhsph.edu
Bosco-Nizeyi
John
J
Ssebide
B
B
Thompson
R C Andrew
RC
Read
Carolyn
C
Cranfield
Michael R
MR
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016829:Giardia lamblia / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D005873:Giardiasis / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000635:transmission*; D006071:Gorilla gorilla / Q000469:parasitology*; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D008297:Male; D010270:Parasite Egg Count; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D014454:Uganda; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000635:transmission
D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal