title: Occurrence ofGiardia, Cryptosporidium, andEntamoebain wild rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) living in urban and semi-rural North-West India.
abstract: Giardia duodenalis, Cryptosporidiumspp., andEntamoebaspp. are intestinal protozoa capable of infecting a range of host species, and are important causes of human morbidity and mortality. Understanding their epidemiology is important, both for public health and for the health of the animals they infect. This study investigated the occurrence of these protozoans in rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) in India, with the aim of providing preliminary information on the potential for transmission of these pathogens between macaques and humans. Faecal samples (n= 170) were collected from rhesus macaques from four districts of North-West India. Samples were analysed forGiardia/Cryptosporidiumusing a commercially available direct immunofluorescent antibody test after purification via immunomagnetic separation. Positive samples were characterised by sequencing of PCR products. Occurrence ofEntamoebawas investigated first by using a genus-specific PCR, and positive samples further investigated via species-specific PCRs forEntamoeba coli,Entamoeba histolytica,Entamoeba disparandEntamoeba moshkovskii.Giardiacysts were found in 31% of macaque samples, with all isolates belonging to Assemblage B.Cryptosporidiumoocysts were found in 1 sample, however this sample did not result in amplification by PCR.Entamoebaspp. were found in 79% of samples, 49% of which were positive forE. coli. Multiplex PCR forE. histolytica,E. disparandE. moshkovskii,did not result in amplification in any of the samples. Thus in 51% of the samples positive at the genus specific PCR, theEntamoebaspecies was not identified. This study provides baseline information on the potential for transmission of these zoonotic parasites at the wildlife-human interface.
authors.affiliation: The Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Companion Animal Clinical Sciences, Ullevålsveien 72, 0033 Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: John J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Debenham
authors.affiliation: The Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department Food Safety and Infection Biology, Ullevålsveien 72, 0033 Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Kristoffer
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tysnes
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh, Department of Medical Parasitology, 160012 Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: Sandhya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khunger
authors.affiliation: The Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department Food Safety and Infection Biology, Ullevålsveien 72, 0033 Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Lucy J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Robertson
keywords: Anthropozoonotic; Disease; Nonhuman primate; Protozoa; Transmission; Zoonotic