COMPARATIVE STUDY OF GASTROINTESTINAL PARASITES OF SOME PRIMATES IN CAPTIVITY AND FREE-RANGE IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Primates serve as important reservoirs of parasites that causes major problems such as morbidity, mortality under stressful conditions. The aim of the study was to compare the gastro-intestinal parasites of some primates in captivity and Free-range in Nigeria. A total of 128 faecal samples were screened from apparently normal/healthy captive wild 14 (10.9%) and free-range primates 114 (89.1%) . The faecal samples were processed using sedimentation and sugar floatation and Stoll's dilution techniques, Cultured and infective larva were recovered using Baermann technique. Out of these, 110 (85.7%) were positive for at least one egg, 4 (28.6%) were positive in captivity (Unilorin Zoo) whereas 106 (93%) were positive in primates on free-range(KLNP). All of the positive samples were three genera of Nematodes; Strongyloides spp., Ascaris spp., Ancyclostoma spp. Strongyloides sp. is the most prevalent parasite, occuring in all primates irrespective of the species.The primates observed, P. anubis, E. patas Ch. aethiops tantalus, were infected at different levels and with different intensity. Primates on free-range (87.00 ± 17.80) haboured higher load of infection than primates in captivity(22.23 ± 25.46). Under both living conditions, there is no difference in the prevalence and intensity of parasites haboured by this primates with seasons. Also, the intensity of parasitic infections between captive (152.23 ± 134.852) and free-range (570.12 ± 342.20) primates are not singnificantly different (t(4)=-1.968,p=0.120). This indicate that primates on free-range habour higher load with higher intensity of infection when compared with captive primates even though they are eposed to natural environment they are at risk with changing habitat. Educating workers and trourists on the need to maintain standard hygiene to zoonotic infections should be carried out regularly. Future studies should facilitate better identification through molecular analysis, proper documentation and use of the information in health management of primate populations.