Molecular characterization and prevalence of intestinal parasites infecting non-human primates in Colombia

Background. Neotropical non-human primates (NHP) have been found infected with a diversity of intestinal zoonotic protozoan and metazoan parasites of public health concern (Solórzano-García & Pérez-Ponce de León, 2018). Ecosystem transformation increases contact between humans and NHP (Trejo-Macías et al., 2007), leading to potential zoonotic parasite transmission. Objective. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of intestinal parasites in free-ranging NHP living in five forest fragments in Colombia. A further aim was to molecularly characterize selected species of zoonotic interest. Material and Methods. Fecal samples were collected from NHP immediately after defecation, and stored in 10% formalin solution and 96% ethanol. Faecal smears and flotation were performed (Botero & Restrepo, 2012). Samples microscopically classified as positive for Blastocystis sp. and Ascarididae were processed for molecular characterization (Mattiucci et al., 2016; Cavallero et al., 2013). Results. 160 fecal samples were collected from primates Alouatta seniculus (n=46), Ateles hybridus (n=13), Aotus griseimembra (n=5), Cebus versicolor (n=20), Saimiri cassiquiarensis (n=73), and Sapajus apella (n=3). Around 90% of the samples were positive for intestinal parasites. Protozoans (Blastocystis sp., Balantiididae, Dientamoeba sp., Entamoebidae, Giardia sp.), cestodes (Hymenolepis sp.), trematodes (Controrchis sp.), nematodes (Ascarididae, Strongyloides sp., Trypanoxyuris sp., Ancylostomatidae), and acanthocephalans were observed. Ascaris lumbricoides and Blastocystis hominis (ST8) were identified at species and subtype level, respectively, through molecular techniques. Conclusion. The finding of parasites with zoonotic potential suggests epidemiological implications in NHP conservation and human health, particularly in wild-urban interface and in highly transformed ecosystems.