Increased anthropogenic activity can result in parasite exchanges and/or general changes in parasite communities, imposing a health risk to great apes. We studied protist and helminth parasites of wild western lowland gorilla groups in different levels of habituation, alongside humans inhabiting Dzanga-Sangha Protected Areas in the Central African Republic. Faeces were collected yearly during November and December from 2007 to 2010 and monthly from November 2010 to October 2011. Protist and helminth infections were compared among gorilla groups habituated, under habituation and unhabituated, and the effect of host traits and seasonality was evaluated. Zoonotic potential of parasites found in humans was assessed. No significant differences in clinically important parasites among the groups in different stages of habituation were found, except for Entamoeba spp. However, humans were infected with four taxa which may overlap with taxa found in gorillas. Females were less infected with spirurids, and adults had higher intensities of infection of Mammomonogamus sp. We found seasonal differences in the prevalence of several parasite taxa, but most importantly, the intensity of infection of unidentified strongylids was higher in the dry season. This study highlights that habituation may not necessarily pose a greater risk of protist and helminth infections in gorilla groups.

Central European Institute for Technology University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Palackého tř 1946 1 612 42 Brno Czech Republic

Department of Anthropology Durham University South Rd Durham DH1 3LE UK

Department of Biology Oita University School of Medicine 1 1 Idaigaoka Hasama Yufu Oita 879 5593 Japan

Department of Pathology and Parasitology Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno Palackého tř 1946 1 612 42 Brno Czech Republic

Dzanga Sangha Project World Wildlife Fund Bangui Central African Republic

Fauna and Flora International Pembroke St Cambridge CB2 3QZ UK

Institute of Biodiversity Animal Health and Comparative Medicine University of Glasgow R205A Level 2 Glasgow G12 8QQ UK

Institute of Parasitology Czech Academy of Sciences Branišovská 31 370 05 České Budějovice Czech Republic

Institute of Vertebrate Biology Czech Academy of Sciences Květná 8 603 65 Brno Czech Republic

Liberec Zoo Lidové sady 425 1 460 01 Liberec Czech Republic

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Parasitol Res. 2018 Jan;117(1):345. doi: 10.1007/s00436-017-5708-3. PubMed

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