Sparse Evidence for Giardia intestinalis, Cryptosporidium spp. and Microsporidia Infections in Humans, Domesticated Animals and Wild Nonhuman Primates Sharing a Farm-Forest Mosaic Landscape in Western Uganda.

Marie Cibot,Caroline Asiimwe,Matthew R Mclennan,Klára Petrželková,Bohumil Sak,Martin Kváč

doi:10.3390/pathogens10080933

Abstract

Zoonotic pathogen transmission is considered a leading threat to the survival of non-human primates and public health in shared landscapes. Giardia spp., Cryptosporidium spp. and Microsporidia are unicellular parasites spread by the fecal-oral route by environmentally resistant stages and can infect humans, livestock, and wildlife including non-human primates. Using immunoassay diagnostic kits and amplification/sequencing of the region of the triosephosphate isomerase, small ribosomal subunit rRNA and the internal transcribed spacer genes, we investigated Giardia, Cryptosporidium, and microsporidia infections, respectively, among humans, domesticated animals (livestock, poultry, and dogs), and wild nonhuman primates (eastern chimpanzees and black and white colobus monkeys) in Bulindi, Uganda, an area of remarkably high human–animal contact and spatial overlap. We analyzed 137 fecal samples and revealed the presence of G. intestinalis assemblage B in two human isolates, G. intestinalis assemblage E in one cow isolate, and Encephalitozoon cuniculi genotype II in two humans and one goat isolate. None of the chimpanzee and colobus monkey samples were positive for any of the screened parasites. Regular distribution of antiparasitic treatment in both humans and domestic animals in Bulindi could have reduced the occurrence of the screened parasites and decreased potential circulation of these pathogens among host species.

Highlights

Emerging zoonotic diseases are a serious threat to both public health and animal conservation
Two immunochromatographic assays were positive for the presence of G. intestinalis coproantigen of the 86 rapid tests performed, corresponding to a 2-year-old boy and a cow
Due to a limited number of tests available in the field, 86 fecal samples were tested for G. intestinalis and 137 for Cryptosporidium, out of the 137 feces collected

Summary

Introduction

Emerging zoonotic diseases are a serious threat to both public health and animal conservation. Cryptosporidium spp., and microsporidia of genera Encephalitozoon and Enterocytozoon are common intestinal protists infecting humans and domesticated animals, including livestock, dogs, and cats [19,20,21,22].

Results

Conclusion