Prevalence and Co-Occurrence of Gastrointestinal Parasites in Nilgiri Langur (<i>Trachypithecus johnii</i>) of Fragmented Landscape in Anamalai Hills, Western Ghats, India

Abstract

Habitat fragmentation is known to alter species composition, influence infection risk and disease emergence in the native species of fragmented landscapes. This study aimed at understanding the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasite in Nilgiri langur, an endemic primate species of the Western Ghats, India. We collected 283 faecal samples from 8 rainforest fragments of Anamalai Hills, Western Ghats and examined gastrointestinal parasites using faecal flotation and sedimentation techniques. A total of 13 gastrointestinal parasite taxa were recovered, which are known to infect humans and livestock. Parasite species richness was higher in disturbed forest fragments than undisturbed ones. We found Trichuris trichiura to be the most prevalent parasite taxa followed by Strongyloides sp. A negative association between Schistosoma sp. and Trichuris trichiura was also observed. Fragment size, proximity to human settlements and other habitat variables such as tree density, canopy cover and tree height did not show any significant relationship with parasitism in Nilgiri langur, which might be attributed to their ability to survive in a disturbed landscape.