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.
Institute of Primate Research (IPR), Karen, Nairobi, Kenya. Jenebymm@yahoo.com
M M
MM
Jeneby
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Ngeiywa
D S
DS
Yole
J M
JM
Mwenda
M A
MA
Suleman
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Carlson
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