Open Access
Research (Published online: 25-12-2021)
12. Diversity of gastrointestinal parasites in sympatric mammals in Moukalaba-Doudou National Park, Gabon
Serge-Ely Dibakou, Ulrich Maloueki, Barthélémy Ngoubangoye, Larson Boundenga, Stephan Ntie, Thierry-Audrey Tsoumbou, Cyr Moussadji, Rina Obame Zang, Dikenane Kombila and Didier Basset
Veterinary World, 14(12): 3149-3155

Serge-Ely Dibakou: Centre de Primatologie, Centre Interdisciplinaire de Recherches Médicales de Franceville (CIRMF), BP 769 Franceville, Gabon.
Ulrich Maloueki: Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Kinshasa University, PO Box 190, Kinshasa XI; Protectrice des Grands Singes de la Moukalaba (PROGRAM), PO Box 861, Libreville, Tchibanga, Gabon.
Barthélémy Ngoubangoye: Centre de Primatologie, Centre Interdisciplinaire de Recherches Médicales de Franceville (CIRMF), BP 769 Franceville, Gabon.
Larson Boundenga: Centre de Primatologie, Centre Interdisciplinaire de Recherches Médicales de Franceville (CIRMF), BP 769 Franceville, Gabon; Groupe Evolution et Transmission Inter-espèces de Parasites (GETIP) du Département de Parasitologie, Centre Interdisciplinaire de Recherches Médicales de Franceville, BP 769 Franceville, Gabon.
Stephan Ntie: Département de Biologie, Laboratoire de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Université des Sciences et Techniques de Masuku, BP 941, Franceville, Gabon.
Thierry-Audrey Tsoumbou: Centre de Primatologie, Centre Interdisciplinaire de Recherches Médicales de Franceville (CIRMF), BP 769 Franceville, Gabon.
Cyr Moussadji: Centre de Primatologie, Centre Interdisciplinaire de Recherches Médicales de Franceville (CIRMF), BP 769 Franceville, Gabon.
Rina Obame Zang: Protectrice des Grands Singes de la Moukalaba (PROGRAM), PO Box 861, Libreville, Tchibanga, Gabon.
Dikenane Kombila: Protectrice des Grands Singes de la Moukalaba (PROGRAM), PO Box 861, Libreville, Tchibanga, Gabon.
Didier Basset: Parasitology Laboratory, CHU Montpellier, Montpellier, France.

doi: www.doi.org/10.14202/vetworld.2021.3149-3155

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Article history: Received: 19-04-2021, Accepted: 12-11-2021, Published online: 25-12-2021

Corresponding author: Serge-Ely Dibakou

E-mail: sergeely@live.fr

Citation: Dibakou S, Maloueki U, Ngoubangoye B, Boundenga L, Ntie S, Tsoumbou T, Moussadji C, Zang RO, Kombila D, Basset D (2021) Diversity of gastrointestinal parasites in sympatric mammals in Moukalaba-Doudou National Park, Gabon, Veterinary World, 14(12): 3149-3155.
Abstract

Background and Aim: Gastrointestinal parasites identified in the wild can negatively affect host fitness, lower performance, and growth. On the other side, sympatric mammals that share habitat and resources may also cross-transmit parasites, which are often zoonotic and can contribute to morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to characterize the diversity of gastrointestinal parasites circulating in mammalian hosts in Moukalaba-Doudou National Park.

Materials and Methods: We screened a total of 25 fecal samples collected from nine wild mammalian species, namely, western gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla), chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes), putty-nosed monkey (Cercopithecus nictitans), African forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis), African buffalo (Syncerus caffer), blue duiker (Philantomba monticola), bay duiker (Cephalophus dorsalis), and red river hog (Potamochoerus porcus) as well as people working as trackers (Homo sapiens) using direct microscopic observations following a sedimentation technique to concentrate the fecal material.

Results: Of the total 25 fecal samples screened, 15 (60%) were positive for parasitic gastrointestinal infection. Based on the morphology of parasite eggs and cysts, we identified a rich diversity of nematodes, protozoans, trematodes, and cestodes, including unidentified strongyles (73%), Oesophagostomum spp. (53%), Ancylostoma spp. (27%), Trichuris spp. (13%), Ascaris spp. (13%), Mammomonogamus spp. (13%), Strongyloides spp. (47%), Balantidium coli (20%), Entamoeba coli (20%), Endolimax nana (6%), Fasciola hepatica (6%), Paramphistomum spp. (13%), and Taenia spp. (6%).

Conclusion: All parasites were found at least once in one of the hosts, and most were potentially zoonotic and responsible for several diseases of public health concern. Because of the small sample size, our findings should not be considered conclusive. Nevertheless, they highlight the diversity of gastrointestinal parasites in this area.

Keywords: conservation, coprology, gastrointestinal parasites, Moukalaba-Doudou National Park, wildlife mammals.