Intestinal parasites found in the research group of mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda: preliminary results.

Abstract

Mountain gorillas (Gorilla gorilla beringei) are critically endangered, remaining only in two isolated populations in Central Africa. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and intensity of intestinal parasites in a single group of mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda over 7 weeks from June to August 2000. Fecal samples were collected from night nests and transported in formalin for examination at Cornell University and the Centers for Disease Control. All fecal samples were examined microscopically for parasitic larvae, cysts, and eggs. The following were found: strongylid eggs, Probstymaria sp. larvae, and two parasitic nematode larvae that were not identified. Additional examination techniques will be used to further examine the fecal material specifically for protozoan cysts. An increasing threat to this group of gorillas is the presence of local field assistants and researchers. We found no evidence of human parasites in the fecal samples from this gorilla group.