Parasite prevalence in blue-eyed black lemurs Eulemur flavifrons in differently degraded forest fragments

N Schwitzer,P Kappeler,D Clough,C Schwitzer,H Zahner,W Kaumanns

doi:10.3354/esr00304

Abstract

ESR Endangered Species Research Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsSpecials ESR 12:215-225 (2010) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/esr00304 Contribution to the Theme Section 'Responses of animals to habitat alteration' Parasite prevalence in blue-eyed black lemurs Eulemur flavifrons in differently degraded forest fragments Nora Schwitzer1,4, Dagmar Clough2, Horst Zahner1, Werner Kaumanns3, Peter Kappeler2, Christoph Schwitzer4,* 1Institut für Parasitologie, Justus-Liebig-Universität, Rudolf-Buchheim-Strasse 2, 35392 Giessen, Germany 2Abteilung Verhaltensökologie & Soziobiologie/Anthropologie, Deutsches Primatenzentrum, Kellnerweg 4, 37077 Göttingen, Germany 3Eschenweg 5, 37130 Gleichen, Germany 4Bristol Conservation and Science Foundation, Bristol Zoo Gardens, Clifton, Bristol BS8 3HA, UK *Corresponding author. Email: cschwitzer@bristolzoo.org.uk ABSTRACT: The parasite burden of an animal population has frequently been used as an indicator of the stress level to which the population is exposed. Primates inhabiting small forest fragments are more likely to experience human contact, reduced food availability and restricted ranging—any or all of which may contribute to a higher parasite prevalence—than populations inhabiting intact primary forest. Recent and ongoing human exploitation of otherwise intact forest may also affect disease burden and parasite transmission in primates. The parasites of blue-eyed black lemurs Eulemur flavifrons have not as yet been subject to scientific research. This paper describes the various parasites found in E. flavifrons and shows parasite prevalence in lemur groups living in differently degraded fragments of the Ankarafa Forest in Sahamalaza National Park, northwest Madagascar. We analysed 166 faecal samples of E. flavifrons inhabiting primary forest and 168 from groups inhabiting secondary forest. In addition, faecal samples and ectoparasites were collected from 18 immobilised lemurs. Forty-three (12.9%) samples contained parasite eggs (Lemuricola spp. and Callistoura spp.) or oocysts. Ten (55.6%) of the 18 samples from immobilised lemurs contained adult Lemuricola spp. Parasite prevalence was significantly higher in secondary than in primary forest, at 7.9 and 4.8% of all positive samples, respectively. Prevalence was high when compared to other studies on parasite load in wild lemurs, suggesting that in our survey area, E. flavifrons were generally under pressure, possibly due to the high degree of fragmentation and degradation of the remaining forest habitat. KEY WORDS: Eulemur flavifrons · Primary forest · Secondary forest · Lemuricola · Callistoura · Seasonality Full text in pdf format PreviousNextCite this article as: Schwitzer N, Clough D, Zahner H, Kaumanns W, Kappeler P, Schwitzer C (2010) Parasite prevalence in blue-eyed black lemurs Eulemur flavifrons in differently degraded forest fragments. Endang Species Res 12:215-225. https://doi.org/10.3354/esr00304Export citation Mail this link - Contents Mailing Lists - RSS Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in ESR Vol. 12, No. 3. Online publication date: September 20, 2010 Print ISSN: 1863-5407; Online ISSN: 1613-4796 Copyright © 2010 Inter-Research.

Highlights

Health and disease issues have been recognised as important factors in wildlife management for many years (Dobson 1988, May et al 1988, Thorne et al 1988, Spalding & Forrester 1993)
This paper describes the various parasites found in E. flavifrons and shows parasite prevalence in lemur groups living in differently degraded fragments of the Ankarafa Forest in Sahamalaza National Park, northwest Madagascar
Gillespie & Chapman (2004) suggested that parasitic diseases played a role in the population decline of Procolobus badius and Colobus guereza living in forest fragments in Kibale National Park, Uganda, and in forest fragments to the west of the park surrounded by an agricultural landscape

Summary

Introduction

Health and disease issues have been recognised as important factors in wildlife management for many years (Dobson 1988, May et al 1988, Thorne et al 1988, Spalding & Forrester 1993). Various scientists have investigated the impact of diseases and their prevention as a factor in conserving wildlife (Nizeyi et al 1999, 2002a,b, Daszak et al 2000, Graczyk et al 2001). Gillespie & Chapman (2004) suggested that parasitic diseases played a role in the population decline of Procolobus badius and Colobus guereza living in forest fragments in Kibale National Park, Uganda, and in forest fragments to the west of the park surrounded by an agricultural landscape. The high parasite prevalence was associated with lower genetic diversity and with a high frequency of a particular allele of the major histocompatibility complex that was found significantly more often in infected than in parasite-free individuals

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