Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum in non-human primates at a primate center at Franceville, Gabon

Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii can cause fatal disease in both humans and non-human primates. Neospora caninum can also cause economic loss and disease to livestock. The distribution of antibodies against these parasites in non-human primates bred at the CIRMF Primate Center in Franceville, Gabon was determined. For their annual medical examination, T. gondii antibodies were identified using a modified agglutination test (MAT). Twenty-one percent were positive with antibody titers varying from 1:40 to 1:4000. Pan troglodytes (n=38; 42.1%) had the highest seroprevalence followed by Mandrillus sphinx (n=139; 16.5%). Only one Gorilla gorilla out of the four examined and one Cercopithecus solatus out of 12 were positive. At the same time, the general seroprevalence of N. caninum determined by competitive enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was 68.67% in the four species tested. M. sphinx (n=139; 66.12%), P. troglodytes (n=38; 16.75%), C. solatus (n=12; 4.75%), and G. gorilla (n=4; 1.10%) had the highest prevalence. Co-infection was noted in 24.07% of the positive cases. This study suggests that these primates may constitute different reservoirs for T. gondii and N. caninum in the cystic form and high distribution of these parasites in this environment. Key words: Toxoplasma gondii. Neospora caninum, antibodies, old world monkeys.