Giardia sp. and Cryptosporidium sp. Infections in Primates in Fragmented and Undisturbed Forest in Western Uganda

• DOI: 10.1645/ge-970r1.1
• Publication Date: 2007-05-10T16:06:23Z
• Authors: Johanna S. Salzer; Innocent B. Rwego; Tony L. Goldberg; Mark S. Kuhlensch...; Thomas R. Gillespie
• Keywords: Giardia

In June 2005, we collected 115 fecal samples from wild primates in western Uganda and examined them for Cryptosporidium sp. Giardia with the use of immunofluorescent antibody (IFA) detection. We sampled an undisturbed forest Kibale National Park 3 highly disturbed fragments outside park. Of samples, red colobus (Pilocolobus tephrosceles) red-tailed guenons (Cercopithecus ascanius) harbored species or Giardia, but black-and-white (Colobus guereza) did not. All primate were negative both parasites. Seven 35 (20%) 1 20 (5%) infected either The presence living fragments, not forest, suggests that habitat disturbance may play a role transmission persistence these pathogens.