Enzootic simian piroplasm (Entopolypoides macaci ) in wild-caught Kenyan non-human primates.
BACKGROUND
Three species of non-human primates comprising African green monkeys (AGMs), (Cercopithecus aethiops, n = 89), Syke's monkeys (Cercopithecus mitis, n = 60) and olive baboons (Papio cynocephalus anubis, n = 30), were screened for Entopolypoides macaci.


METHODS
Observation of blood smears prepared from these animals revealed E. macaci infection rate of 42.7% in AGMs, 35% in Syke's monkeys and 33.3% in baboons.


RESULTS
Gender infection rate was 38.2% in females and 29% in males. Statistically, there was no significant difference in infection rates between the monkey species and sexes (P > 0.05). Subsequent indirect immuno fluorescent antibody test supported the morphological appearance of E. macaci observed by microscopy. Sera from infected animals reacted positively (1:625) with E. macaci antigen, but not to Babesia bigemina or B. bovis antigen at 1:125 titer.


CONCLUSIONS
This study has revealed high prevalence of E. macaci infection in all three widely distributed Kenyan non-human primates. With the continued use of these animals as models for human parasitic diseases, the presence of this highly enzootic parasite should be noted.
Jeneby
M M
MM
Institute of Primate Research (IPR), Karen, Nairobi, Kenya. Jenebymm@yahoo.com
Ngeiywa
M
M
Yole
D S
DS
Mwenda
J M
JM
Suleman
M A
MA
Carlson
H E
HE
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect / Q000662:veterinary; D000882:Haplorhini / Q000097:blood / Q000469:parasitology*; D006651:Histocytochemistry / Q000662:veterinary; D007630:Kenya / Q000453:epidemiology; D008099:Liver / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male; D008992:Monkey Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000469:parasitology*; D010215:Papio / Q000097:blood / Q000469:parasitology*; D018512:Parasitemia / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D016792:Piroplasmida / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015995:Prevalence; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology