Abstract
Parasites are of major clinical significance in captive primates in zoos, particularly those with direct life cycles. Oxyurid nematodes can be a persistent problem, as infection intensity and environmental contamination with infective eggs are usually high. Observations at the Basel Zoo in Switzerland have revealed that particularly black-handed spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi) exhibit continuous oxyurid nematode infection(s), despite regular deworming with anthelmintics. In the present study, using a molecular approach, we were able to identify the nematode (Trypanoxyuris atelis) causing this ongoing problem, and we are now evaluating a practical treatment and control regimen to tackle this parasite problem.
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Acknowledgments
SB and BG thank staff of Basel Zoo for their contributions. RBG acknowledges support of the Australian Research Council (ARC), Melbourne Water Corporation and from the Victorian Life Sciences Computation Initiative (VLSCI) grant number VR0007 on its Peak Computing Facility at the University of Melbourne, an initiative of the Victorian Government.
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Koehler, A.V., Borel, S., Hoby, S. et al. Genetic identification of an oxyurid from a captive, black-handed spider monkey—implications for treatment and control. Parasitol Res 113, 3445–3448 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-014-4013-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-014-4013-7