Schistosoma mansoni and other intestinal parasitic infections in schoolchildren and vervet monkeys in Lake Ziway area, Ethiopia

Dejene Teklemariam,Song Liang,Berhanu Erko,Mengistu Legesse,Abraham Degarege

doi:10.1186/s13104-018-3248-2

Abstract

ObjectiveTo assess Schistosoma mansoni and other intestinal parasitic infections in schoolchildren and vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus aethiops) in Bochessa Village, Ziway, Ethiopia.ResultsFecal specimens from selected schoolchildren and droppings of the vervet monkeys were collected and microscopically examined for intestinal parasites using the Kato-Katz thick smear and formol-ether concentration techniques. The prevalences of S. mansoni, Trichuris trichiura, Ascaris lumbricoides, Enterobius vermicularis, hookworms, Hymenolepis nana and Taenia species among the children were 35.7, 26.9, 24.1, 2.1, 2.1, 1.07 and 2.1%, respectively (by Kato-Katz) and 39.3, 36.1, 35.6, 2.9, 10.0, 4.3, and 2.9%, respectively (by formol-ether concentration). Prevalence of S. mansoni in vervet monkeys ranged from 10 to 20%. B. pfeifferi snails were exposed to S. mansoni miracidia from vervet origin, shed cercariae were then used to infect lab-bred albino mice. Adult worms were harvested from the mice 5 weeks post-exposure to cercariae to establish the schistosome life cycle and confirm the infection in the vervet monkeys. The natural infection of S. mansoni in vervet monkeys suggests that the non-human primate is likely to be implicated in the local transmission of schistosomiasis. Further epidemiological and molecular studies are needed to fully elucidate zoonotic role of non-human primate in the area.

Highlights

Intestinal parasites cause one of the most prevalent infections in humans in developing countries [1]
Some studies conducted in the Rift Valley of Ethiopia suggested that non-human primates (NHPs) were involved in the transmission of S. mansoni [11, 13]
Helminth infections in monkeys Microscopic examination of faecal droppings of free ranging vervet monkeys on the immediate lake shore and Kobo areas around the village showed of 20 and 10% of S. mansoni prevalence, respectively, as determined by concentration method

Summary

Introduction

Intestinal parasites cause one of the most prevalent infections in humans in developing countries [1]. Over 140 zoonotic parasites are known to be shared between humans and animals [2, 3]. Spatial separation exists between human and non-human primates (NHPs) and other animals, indirect contact via environmental media such as air, soil and water, makes the humanNHPs linkage potentially important in the transmission of certain zoonoses [4, 5]. Humans are primary definitive host for S. mansoni [6] while the parasite naturally infects other animals [7– 12], suggesting that the animals (non-human) may play a role in the epidemiology of the disease. In most parts of Ethiopia, humans are the definitive host involved in the life cycle of schistosomiasis without reservoir hosts. Some studies conducted in the Rift Valley of Ethiopia suggested that NHPs were involved in the transmission of S. mansoni [11, 13]

Methods

Results

Conclusion