Occurrence and Genetic Diversity of Protist Parasites in Captive Non-Human Primates, Zookeepers, and Free-Living Sympatric Rats in the Córdoba Zoo Conservation Centre, Southern Spain

• Published in: Animals (Basel) Vol. 11; no. 3; p. 700
• Main Authors: Köster, Pamela C, Dashti, Alejandro, Bailo, Begoña, Muadica, Aly S, Maloney, Jenny G, Santín, Mónica, Chicharro, Carmen, Migueláñez, Silvia, Nieto, Francisco J, Cano-Terriza, David, García-Bocanegra, Ignacio, Guerra, Rafael, Ponce-Gordo, Francisco, Calero-Bernal, Rafael, González-Barrio, David, Carmena, David
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 05-03-2021; MDPI
• Subjects: Balantioides coli; Blastocystis; Blastocysts; Conservation; Cryptosporidium; Deoxyribonucleic acid; Diarrhea; DNA; Enterocytozoon bieneusi; Epidemiology; Gene expression; Genetic diversity; Genetic testing; Genetic variance; Genotypes; Giardia; Giardia duodenalis; Handlers; Infections; Laboratories; Leishmania; Parasites; Primates; Protective equipment; Questionnaires; Sympatric populations; Troglodytella; Zoo animals; Zoological gardens; Zoonoses; Spain; Cryptosporidium; Balantioides coli; Enterocytozoon bieneusi; non-human primates; Giardia; rats; Blastocystis; Troglodytella; zoological garden
• ISSN: 2076-2615; 2076-2615
• DOI: 10.3390/ani11030700

Little information is currently available on the epidemiology of parasitic and commensal protist species in captive non-human primates (NHP) and their zoonotic potential. This study investigates the occurrence, molecular diversity, and potential transmission dynamics of parasitic and commensal protist species in a zoological garden in southern Spain. The prevalence and genotypes of the main enteric protist species were investigated in faecal samples from NHP (
= 51), zookeepers (
= 19) and free-living rats (
= 64) by molecular (PCR and sequencing) methods between 2018 and 2019. The presence of
spp. was also investigated in tissues from sympatric rats using PCR.
sp. (45.1%),
(27.5%),
(21.6%),
(3.9%), and
(2.0%) (but not
spp.) were detected in NHP.
(10.5%) and
sp. (10.5%) were identified in zookeepers, while
spp. (45.3%),
(14.1%), and
sp. (6.25%) (but not
spp.) were detected in rats.
ST1, ST3, and ST8 and
sub-assemblage AII were identified in NHP, and
ST1 in zookeepers.
isolates failed to be genotyped in human samples. In rats, four
(
,
, and rat genotypes IV and V), one
(assemblage G), and three
(ST4) genetic variants were detected. Our results indicate high exposure of NHP to zoonotic protist species. Zoonotic transmission of
ST1 was highly suspected between captive NHP and zookeepers.