Endoparasitic infections in captive wild mammals under human care in San Luis Potosí, Mexico

Objective: Determine parasite prevalence, richness and load in wild mammals of Tangamanga I and II Parks in San Luis Potosí, SLP. Evaluate if infections are related to diet and/or climatic seasons. Design/methodology/approach: Analysis of fresh feces collected during three consecutive days in two sampling periods. Passive flotation techniques with sodium nitrate (qualitative) and McMaster (quantitative) were performed. Results: General prevalence observed was 36% (n=242). The parasite richness is formed by protozoa: Eimeria sp, Isospora sp and Cystoisospora sp; by the cestode Moniezia expansa and nematodes: Toxocara sp, Toxascaris sp, Ancylostoma sp/Uncinaria sp, Strongyloides sp, Trichuris suis and eggs from the Strongyles group. The parasite load observed in the case of protozoa ranged from 0 – 8,505 Oocysts per Gram of Feces, and from 0 – 1,400 Eggs per Gram of Feces in the case of helminths. Statistical analyzes showed that the prevalence of parasites does not depend on the climatic season, and only in Tangamanga II Park is the prevalence dependent on the diet (herbivores). Study limitations/implications: The preservation method used limits the coproparasitoscopic techniques that can be used (coproculture or coccidia sporulation). Findings/conclusions: The observed endoparasitic infections can be a potential risk to the health of animals, especially those of great genetic value (i.e., endangered species). In addition, the potentially zoonotic parasites observed represent a threat to the health of their keepers.Objective: To determine the prevalence, richness and parasitic load in wild mammals of Tangamanga I and II Parks in San Luis Potosí, SLP. To assess whether infections are related to the type of feeding and weather seasons. Design/methodology/approach: Analysis of fresh feces collected for three consecutive days at two sampling stations. Passive flotation techniques with sodium nitrate (qualitative) and McMaster (quantitative) were used. Results: The overall prevalence observed was 36% (n=242). The parasitic wealth is formed by protozoa: Eimeria sp., Isospora sp. and Cystoisospora sp.; by the cestode Moniezia expansa, nematodes: Toxocara sp., Toxascaris sp., Ancylostoma sp./Uncinaria sp., Strongyloides sp., Trichuris suis and Strongylid eggs. The parasite load in the case of protozoa was in the range of 0 – 8505 oocysts per gram of faeces, and 0 – 1400 eggs per gram of faeces in the case of helminths. Statistical analyses showed that the prevalence of parasites does not depend on the climatic season, and only in Tangamanga II Park is the prevalence dependent on the type of feeding (herbivores). Study limitations/implications: The conservation method used limits the stool test techniques that can be employed (stool culture or sporulation). Findings/conclusions: Endoparasitic infections can be a potential risk to the health of animals. In particular to those of great genetic value such as species threatened with extinction. In addition, the potentially zoonotic parasites observed pose a threat to the health of caregiver

Molecular evidence of Leishmania spp. in spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi) from The Tuxtlas Biosphere Reserve, Veracruz, Mexico

The black-handed spider monkey (Ateles geoffroyi) is a platyrrhine primate distributed in southern Mexico, Central America, and part of South America. Two subspecies inhabit Mexico: Ateles geoffroyi vellerosus and Ateles geoffroyi yucatanensis, both threatened with extinction. Serological evidence of exposure of spider monkeys to various groups of parasites such as Trypanosoma cruzi in México and Leishmania spp. in Brazil has been reported. The genus Leishmania encompasses about 23 species of flagellate protozoa that are transmitted by the bite of females of Phlebotominae sand flies. These parasites cause a zoonotic disease called leishmaniasis, which generates skin, mucocutaneous and/or visceral manifestations. The aim of the present study was to demonstrate the presence of Leishmania sp. in spider monkeys from the Tuxtlas Biosphere Reserve, Veracruz, Mexico. Blood samples from 10 free- ranging specimens of A. geoffroyi yucatanensis and 11 specimens in captivity of A. geoffroyi vellerosus were collected and used. The samples were subjected to a conventional Polymerase Chain Reaction test for the identification of a 116 bp fragment of a region from the kinetoplast minicircle of the parasite. Our analyzes showed that 71.4% of the sampled animals had fragment sizes compatible with Leishmania spp. The implications involve the survival of the specimens and the possibility that these primates act as sentinels of the disease. Furthermore, it is the first report suggesting the presence of Leishmania spp. in A. geoffroyi vellerosus and A. geoffroyi yucatanensis in Veracruz, Mexico.Instituto de PatobiologíaFil: Pérez-Brígido, Carlos D. Universidad Veracruzana. Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia. Unidad de Diagnóstico, Rancho Torreón del Molino. Laboratorio de Parasitología; MéxicoFil: Pérez-Brígido, Carlos D. Universidad Veracruzana. Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias. Región Tuxpan; MéxicoFil: Romero-Salas, Dora. Universidad Veracruzana. Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia. Unidad de Diagnóstico, Rancho Torreón del Molino. Laboratorio de Parasitología; MéxicoFil: Pardío-Sedas, Violeta T. Universidad Veracruzana. Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia. Laboratorio de Toxicología; MéxicoFil: Cruz-Romero, Anabel. Universidad Veracruzana. Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia. Unidad de Diagnóstico, Rancho Torreón del Molino. Laboratorio de Parasitología; MéxicoFil: González-Hernández, Milagros. Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí. Facultad de Agronomía y Veterinaria; MéxicoFil: Delprá-Cachulo, Joyce Mara. Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí. Facultad de Agronomía y Veterinaria; MéxicoFil: Ascencio, Mariano E. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Patobiología; ArgentinaFil: Ascencio, Mariano E. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Florin-Christensen, Monica. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Patobiologia; ArgentinaFil: Florin-Christensen, Monica. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina.Fil: Schnittger, Leonhard. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Patobiologia; ArgentinaFil: Schnittger, Leonhard. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina.Fil: Rodriguez, Anabel Elisa. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Patobiología; ArgentinaFil: Rodriguez, Anabel Elisa. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin