Intestinal parasites in non-human primates in Colombia: Prevalence estimation and molecular characterization

threat of zoonoses transmission, particularly under the current processes of pervasive land use change, which could affect the dynamics between parasites and their hosts, and alter the disease transmission cycles between NHP and humans. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of intestinal parasites in free-ranging NHP exposed to anthropogenic disturbance in Colombia, and to characterize using molecular approaches selected parasite species of zoonotic interest. Fecal samples were collected from NHP immediately after defecation. Direct 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). A total of 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., Eimeria 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 through molecular techniques. The finding of parasites with zoonotic potential suggests epidemiological implications in NHP conservation and human health, particularly in wild-urban interfaces and in highly transformed ecosystems.