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Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg., 74(2), 2006, pp. 322-329
Copyright © 2006 by The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

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PREVALENCE OF CRYPTOSPORIDIUM AND OTHER ENTERIC PARASITES AMONG WILD NON-HUMAN PRIMATES IN POLONNARUWA, SRI LANKA

DILRUKSHI K. EKANAYAKE, APPUDURAI ARULKANTHAN, NEIL U. HORADAGODA, G. K. MADURA SANJEEVANI, RUDO KIEFT, SUNIL GUNATILAKE, AND WOLFGANG P. J. DITTUS*
Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka; Global Infectious Disease Program, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, Massachusetts; Association for the Conservation of Primate Diversity, Kandy, Sri Lanka; Institute of Fundamental Studies, Kandy, Sri Lanka; Department of Conservation Biology, Smithsonian National Zoological Park, Washington, District of Columbia

Cryptosporidiosis is a rapidly emerging disease in the tropics. This is the first report of Cryptosporidium and other protozoan infections (Entamoeba spp., Iodamoeba, Chilomastix, and Balantidium spp.) in wild primates that inhabit the natural forest of Sri Lanka. It is unclear if non-human primates serve as a reservoir for these parasites under certain conditions. A cross-sectional coprologic survey among 125 monkeys (89 toque macaques, 21 gray langurs, and 15 purple-faced langurs) indicated that Cryptosporidium was detected in all three primate species and was most common among monkeys using areas and water that had been heavily soiled by human feces and livestock. Most macaques (96%) shedding Cryptosporidium oocysts were co-infected with other protozoans and important anthropozoonotic gastrointestinal parasites (e.g., Enterobius and Strongyloides). The transmission of these parasites among primates in the wild may have important implications for public health as well as wildlife conservation management.

Received June 12, 2005. Accepted for publication September 28, 2005.

Acknowledgments: We thank Steve Hajduk (Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA) for critical reading of the manuscript; Giovanni Widmer (Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine, North Grafton, MA) for materials and technical assistance; and N. K. Kodithuwakku, K. R. Liyanage, and C. J. R. M. Pathirathne (Primate Research Station at Polonnaruwa) for their help with field work. We also thank K. Tennakone (Director, Institute of Fundamental Studies) and J. Ballou (Head, Department of Conservation Biology, Smithsonian National Zoological Park) for administrative support.

Financial support: This study was supported by grants (Smithsonian Institution and Center for Field Research Earthwatch) to Wolfgang P. J. Dittus and an Ellison visiting scholarship to Dilruskshi K. Ekanayake.

* Address correspondence to Wolfgang P. J. Dittus, Association for the Conservation of Primate Diversity, 140/12 Mapanawathura Road, Kandy, CP, Sri Lanka. E-mail: dittus{at}sri.lanka.net

Authors’ addresses: Dilrukshi K. Ekanayake, Appudurai Arulkanthan, Neil U. Horadagoda, and G. K. Madura Sanjeevani, Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, Telephone 94-81-238-9542, E-mails: dilrukski1975{at}yahoo.co.uk and aarul{at}yahoo.com, neil_vetpara{at}yahoo.co.uk. Rudo Kieft, Global Infectious Disease Program, Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA 02543, Telephone 508-289-7787. Sunil Gunati-lake, Smithsonian Field Camp, New Town, Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka, E-mail: zunilnethro{at}yahoo.com. Wolfgang P. J. Dittus, Association for the Conservation of Primate Diversity, 140/12 Mapanawathura Road, Kandy, CP, Sri Lanka, Institute of Fundamental Studies, Hantana Road, Kandy, Sri Lanka, and Department of Conservation Biology, Smithsonian National Zoological Park, Washington DC 20008. Telephone and Fax: 94-81-221-5248, E-mail: dittus{at}sri.lanka.net.

Reprint requests: Wolfgang P. J. Dittus, Association for the Conservation of Primate Diversity, 140/12 Mapanawathura Road, Kandy, CP, Sri Lanka, E-mail: dittus{at}sri.lanka.net.




This article has been cited by other articles:


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 Am J Trop Med HygHome page
D. K. Ekanayake, D. M. Welch, R. Kieft, S. Hajduk, and W. P. J. Dittus
Transmission Dynamics of Cryptosporidium Infection in a Natural Population of Non-Human Primates at Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka
Am J Trop Med Hyg, November 1, 2007; 77(5): 818 - 822.
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Copyright © 2006 by the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.