Prevalence, infection intensity and genotyping of Giardia duodenalis in ring-tailed lemurs Lemur catta from European zoos and wild populations

Authors

  • Anna Fomsgaard University of Copenhagen
  • Maiken Worsøe Rosenstierne Statens Serum Institute
  • Morten Rasmussen Statens Serum Institute
  • Patricia Wright Stony Brook University
  • Gabrielle L. Bueno Stony Brook University
  • Eliette Noromalala University of Antananarivo
  • Sally L. Bornbusch Duke University
  • Christen Rune Stensvold Statens Serum Institute
  • Michael Poulsen University of Copenhagen
  • Christina Hvilsom Copenhagen Zoo

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.19227/jzar.v8i4.509

Keywords:

Zoonoses, Parasitology, Zoo populations, Madagascar, Enclosure Design, Diarrhoea

Abstract

Globally, Giardia duodenalis is probably the most common intestinal protozoan parasite infecting humans and it appears also to be common in some zoo-housed primates. Infected zoo animals present a risk for potential spill-over of zoonotic pathogens to co-residing animals, staff and visitors. Using quantitative PCR, this study compared Giardia spp. prevalence and infection intensity in wild and zoo-housed ring-tailed lemurs Lemur catta. Infection intensity of zoo-housed ring-tailed lemurs (prevalence=88.6%, median Ct value=31.1, IQR=27.1–34.5) was significantly higher (P>0.01) than in wild ring-tailed lemurs (prevalence=20.0%, median Ct value=37.7, IQR=37.5–38.7), where little or no Giardia was found. Comparison of the enclosure designs showed both a higher prevalence and significantly higher intensity (P>0.005) of Giardia infections in zoos with walk-through enclosures (prevalence=89%, median Ct value=28.6, IQR=26.5–32.3) compared to traditional enclosures (prevalence=65%, median Ct value=35.2, IQR=33.3–37.8), but there was substantial variation within groups. The potentially zoonotic G. duodenalis assemblage B was identified in samples from five zoos. These findings suggest that ring-tailed lemurs may be asymptomatic carriers of G. duodenalis and a higher parasitic load might occur in lemurs held in walk-through enclosures.

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Published

31-10-2020

How to Cite

Fomsgaard, A., Worsøe Rosenstierne, M. ., Rasmussen, M. ., Wright, P. ., Bueno, G., Noromalala, E. ., … Hvilsom, C. . (2020). Prevalence, infection intensity and genotyping of Giardia duodenalis in ring-tailed lemurs Lemur catta from European zoos and wild populations. Journal of Zoo and Aquarium Research, 8(4), 253–258. https://doi.org/10.19227/jzar.v8i4.509

Issue

Section

Original Research Article

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