Molecular identification of Taenia serialis coenurosis in a wild Ethiopian gelada (Theropithecus gelada).
Since morphological identification of a larval Taeniid in geladas (Theropithecus gelada) has produced inconsistent results, genetic information is pivotal for species identification. Nuclear and mitochondrial DNA from a coenurus in a wild gelada were compared to published sequences from multiple Taeniid species, confirming the identification of this parasite as Taenia serialis. A demographic analysis finds age to be a strong predictor of coenuri. Tapeworms rarely employ primates as intermediate hosts, and the presence of T. serialis in a wild gelada population may indicate a substantial ecological shift in this parasite's life cycle.
Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, United States. Electronic address: ias6@duke.edu.
India A
IA
Schneider-Crease
Noah
N
Snyder-Mackler
Julie C
JC
Jarvey
Thore J
TJ
Bergman
D000818:Animals; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008992:Monkey Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D013621:Taenia / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013622:Taeniasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D016671:Theropithecus
Gelada; Molecular phylogeny; Multiceps; Taenia serialis