Abstract
Background: Several cases of infections due to Echinococcus multilocularis, Taenia martis and Taenia crassiceps were recently described in various species of captive non-human primates (NHPs) harbored in the Strasbourg Primate Center (SPC). Furthermore, one of the first cases of human cysticercosis due to T. martis was described in the Strasbourg region. These data suggest the existence of zoonotic cycles of tapeworm infections in the direct environment of the SPC. The aim of our study was to assess the prevalence of larval cestode infections among intermediate and definitive hosts in the close neighborhood of the center. We analyzed carnivore mammal fecal samples as well as rodent carcasses, collected inside or near the SPC, using PCR. Furthermore, we performed serology for Echinococcus spp. and Taenia spp. on NHP sera. Results: We found that 14.5% (95% CI [8.6; 20.4]) of 138 carnivore feces were positive for E. multilocularis-DNA, as well as 25% (95% CI [5.5; 57.2]) of 12 rodent carcasses, and 5.1% (95% CI [1.4; 8.7]) for T. martis or T. crassiceps. Of all NHPs tested, 10.1% (95% CI [3.8; 16.4]) were seropositive for Echinococcus spp. and 8.2% (95% CI [1.3; 15.1]) for Taenia spp. Conclusions: Our data support the existence of zoonotic cycles of larval cestode infections in the direct environment of the primatology center affecting NHPs harbored in the SPC, potentially threatening the human population living in this area. Since this zoonotic risk is borne by local wildlife, and given the severity of these infections, it seems necessary to put in place measures to protect captive NHPs, and further studies to better assess the risk to human populations.
Highlights
The Strasbourg Primate Center (SPC) is a scientific research center situated on the outskirts of the Strasbourg metropolitan area (Fig. 1)
Many non-human primates (NHPs) belonging to various species live in semi-freedom in parks or large cages, allowing them to interact with local wildlife, including birds, rodents, and carnivore mammals such as red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) or pine martens (Martes martes) (Fig. 2)
We studied non-human primates (NHPs) hosted in the SPC, belonging to various species: Macaca fascicularis, Macaca mulatta, Macaca tonkeana, Chlorocebus aethiops sabaeus, Cebus apella, Cebus capucinus, Eulemur macaco macaco and Eulemur fulvus
Summary
The Strasbourg Primate Center (SPC) is a scientific research center situated on the outskirts of the Strasbourg metropolitan area (Fig. 1) In this facility, many non-human primates (NHPs) belonging to various species live in semi-freedom in parks or large cages, allowing them to interact with local wildlife, including birds, rodents, and carnivore mammals such as red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) or pine martens (Martes martes) (Fig. 2). Echinococcus spp. and Taenia spp. are common cestodes in Eastern France, with a heteroxenous life cycle involving different wild species, carnivores as definitive hosts, and rodents as intermediate ones Some of these parasites are known for being able to infect NHPs belonging to several species including gorillas, lemurs and macaques [5, 6, 8, 11, 26, 30, 35]. Given the recurrences of these cases, parasitic infections in captive NHPs no longer appear exceptional, and one may wonder to what extent the environment exerts parasite pressure on these animals
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