Tsetse flies are well-known vectors of trypanosomes pathogenic for humans and livestock. For these strictly blood-feeding viviparous flies, the host blood should be the only source of nutrients and liquids, as well as any exogenous microorganisms colonising their intestine. Here we describe the unexpected finding of several monoxenous trypanosomatids in their gut. In a total of 564 individually examined Glossina (Austenia) tabaniformis (Westwood) (436 specimens) and Glossina (Nemorhina) fuscipes fuscipes (Newstead) (128 specimens) captured in the Dzanga-Sangha Protected Areas, Central African Republic, 24 (4.3%) individuals were infected with monoxenous trypanosomatids belonging to the genera Crithidia Léger, 1902; Kentomonas Votýpka, Yurchenko, Kostygov et Lukeš, 2014; Novymonas Kostygov et Yurchenko, 2020; Obscuromonas Votýpka et Lukeš, 2021; and Wallacemonas Kostygov et Yurchenko, 2014. Moreover, additional 20 (3.5%) inspected tsetse flies harboured free-living bodonids affiliated with the genera Dimastigella Sandon, 1928; Neobodo Vickerman, 2004; Parabodo Skuja, 1939; and Rhynchomonas Klebs, 1892. In the context of the recently described feeding behaviour of these dipterans, we propose that they become infected while taking sugar meals and water, providing indirect evidence that blood is not their only source of food and liquids.

• MeSH
• interakce hostitele a parazita * MeSH
• moucha tse-tse * parazitologie   fyziologie   MeSH
• stravovací zvyklosti MeSH
• Trypanosomatina fyziologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Středoafrická republika MeSH

• MeSH
• feces parazitologie   MeSH
• fylogeneze * MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• polymerázová řetězová reakce MeSH
• primáti parazitologie   MeSH
• sekvenční analýza DNA MeSH
• Trichuris * genetika   parazitologie   MeSH
• vejce MeSH
• zoonózy etiologie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

Comparison of diagnostic methods for Plasmodium spp. in humans from Uganda and the Central African Republic showed that parasites can be efficiently detected by PCR in fecal samples. These results, which rely solely on PCR-based examination of feces, validate numerous estimates of the prevalence of malaria in great apes.

• MeSH
• cytochromy b genetika   MeSH
• diagnostické techniky molekulární MeSH
• feces parazitologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• Plasmodium falciparum genetika   izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• polymerázová řetězová reakce MeSH
• protozoální proteiny genetika   MeSH
• senzitivita a specificita MeSH
• tropická malárie diagnóza   parazitologie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

Troglodytella abrassarti is an intestinal entodiniomorphid ciliate commonly diagnosed in the feces of wild and captive chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). Entodiniomorphids could be considered to have a mutualistic relationship with the great apes, in that the ciliates benefit from the intestinal ecosystem of the host, while also contributing to the fiber fermentation process. We examined the effect of diet on the infection intensities of T. abrassarti in two captive chimpanzees in the Liberec Zoo, Czech Republic. The chimpanzees were fed a low-fiber diet (LFD) with 14% neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and a high-fiber diet (HFD; 26% NDF) for 10 days with one transition, and two 10-day adaptation periods. Fecal samples were examined coproscopically with the merthiolate-iodine-formaldehyde concentration (MIFC) technique, in order to quantify the number of ciliates per gram of feces. A significant trend of increasing T. abrassarti numbers was observed when the animals were fed the LFD, compared to when they were fed the HFD. Our results suggest, however, that infection intensities of T. abrassarti in captive chimpanzees are not influenced primarily by the amount of fiber in the diet, but rather by the dietary starch concentration (HFD: 1%; LFD: 8%).

• MeSH
• dieta veterinární   MeSH
• feces parazitologie   MeSH
• infekce prvoky kmene Ciliophora parazitologie   veterinární   MeSH
• interakce hostitele a parazita MeSH
• Pan troglodytes parazitologie   MeSH
• potravní vláknina aplikace a dávkování   MeSH
• škrob MeSH
• Trichostomatina izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• zvířata v ZOO MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH

Entodiniomorphid ciliates occur in the hindgut of both captive and wild African great apes. These ciliates do not form cysts, and therefore they are more susceptible for degradation. This present study focused on the survival, quantification, and decomposition processes of Troglodytella abrassarti trophozoites in the feces of captive chimpanzees. Fecal samples were examined using wet mounts and the merthiolate-iodine-formaldehyde concentration method, and the number of ciliates was expressed as ciliates per gram, which did not differ when examined from three different samples of the same feces. Trophozoites of T. abrassarti survived 5-15 hr after defecation at 25 degrees C under aerobic conditions. Decomposition of trophozoites began immediately after defecation; however, most of the trophozoites had a compact shape and visible cilia. Trophozoites, although without cilia, can be detected in the feces 55-65 hr after defecation, although most of the trophozoites were fragmented. The total number of ciliates in the sample started to decrease 35-55 hr after defecation. The absence of entodiniomorphid ciliates in fecal samples could not be caused by delayed feces fixation; instead, the absence was due to low sensitivity of coproscopic techniques. However, because of quick morphologic changes of trophozoites, accurate identification of ciliates in older samples may be difficult or even impossible.

• MeSH
• časové faktory MeSH
• Ciliophora izolace a purifikace   fyziologie   MeSH
• feces parazitologie   MeSH
• Pan troglodytes MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

Entodiniomorphid ciliates are intestinal protists inhabiting the colons of African great apes. The participation of intestinal entodiniomorphid ciliates in ape hindgut digestion has been proposed, but little data have been available to support the hypothesis. We measured the specific activities of carboxymethyl cellulase, xylanase, inulinase, and α-amylase against different polysaccharides in the feces of captive chimpanzees and evaluated the participation of the entodiniomorphid ciliate, Troglodytella abrassarti, in these activities. T. abrassarti contributed to the total fecal hydrolytic activities of CM-cellulase by 16.2%, α-amylase by 5.95%, and xylanase by 0.66%. Inulinase activity in T. abrassarti samples was not measurable at reaction conditions used. The ciliates, T. abrassarti, actively participate in the chimpanzee hindgut fermentation of fiber and starch.

• MeSH
• Ciliophora enzymologie   MeSH
• feces parazitologie   MeSH
• hydrolýza MeSH
• kolon metabolismus   parazitologie   MeSH
• Pan troglodytes metabolismus   parazitologie   MeSH
• polysacharidy metabolismus   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

Two hundred and seventeen captive great apes (150 chimpanzees, Pan troglodytes; 14 bonobos, Pan paniscus; 53 western gorillas, Gorilla gorilla) and 20 personnel from thirteen European zoos and two African sanctuaries were sampled and examined in order to determine the occurrence of Enterocytozoon bieneusi and species of Encephalitozoon in faecal specimens and to compare the epidemiological situation between zoos and sanctuaries. Microsporidia were detected at all sampling sites. Sequence analyses of ITS amplicons generated by using microsporidia-specific primers determined the presence of microsporidia in 87 samples including 13 humans; since two cases of simultaneous occurrence of Encephalitozoon cuniculi and Enterocytozoon bieneusi were identified, 89 full-length ITS sequences were obtained, namely 78 Encephalitozoon cuniculi genotype I, five E. cuniculi genotype II, two E. hellem 1A and four Enterocytozoon bieneusi. No Encephalitozoon intestinalis-positive samples were identified. This is the first report of Encephalitozoon species and Enterocytozoon bieneusi genotypes in captive great apes kept under various conditions and the first record of natural infection with E. hellem in great apes. A comparison of zoos and sanctuaries showed a significantly higher prevalence of microsporidia in sanctuaries (P<0.001), raising a question about the factors affecting the occurrence of microsporidia in epidemiologically and sanitarily comparable types of facilities.

• MeSH
• DNA fungální genetika   chemie   MeSH
• druhová specificita MeSH
• Encephalitozoon genetika   izolace a purifikace   patogenita   MeSH
• feces mikrobiologie   MeSH
• financování organizované MeSH
• genetická variace MeSH
• genotyp MeSH
• Gorilla gorilla mikrobiologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mezerníky ribozomální DNA genetika   chemie   MeSH
• Microsporidia genetika   izolace a purifikace   klasifikace   MeSH
• mikrosporidióza epidemiologie   mikrobiologie   přenos   veterinární   MeSH
• molekulární sekvence - údaje MeSH
• nemoci lidoopů epidemiologie   mikrobiologie   přenos   MeSH
• Pan paniscus mikrobiologie   MeSH
• Pan troglodytes mikrobiologie   MeSH
• polymerázová řetězová reakce MeSH
• prevalence MeSH
• sekvence nukleotidů MeSH
• sekvenční analýza DNA MeSH
• sekvenční seřazení MeSH
• zoonózy mikrobiologie   přenos   MeSH
• zvířata v ZOO mikrobiologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Afrika MeSH
• Evropa MeSH

Intestinal entodiniomorphid ciliates are commonly diagnosed in the feces of wild apes of the genera Pan and Gorilla. Although some authors previously considered entodiniomorphid ciliates as possible pathogens, a symbiotic function within the intestinal ecosystem and their participation in fiber fermentation has been proposed. Previous studies have suggested that these ciliates gradually disappear under captive conditions. We studied entodiniomorphid ciliates in 23 captive groups of chimpanzees, three groups of captive bonobos and six populations of wild chimpanzees. Fecal samples were examined using Sheather's flotation and Merthiolate-Iodine-Formaldehyde Concentration (MIFC) methods. We quantified the number of ciliates per gram of feces. The MIFC method was more sensitive for ciliate detection than the flotation method. Ciliates of genus Troglodytella were detected in 13 groups of captive chimpanzees, two groups of bonobos and in all wild chimpanzee populations studied. The absence of entodiniomorphids in some captive groups might be because of the extensive administration of chemotherapeutics in the past or a side-effect of the causative or prophylactic administration of antiparasitic or antibiotic drugs. The infection intensities of ciliates in captive chimpanzees were higher than in wild ones. We suppose that the over-supply of starch, typical in captive primate diets, might induce an increase in the number of ciliates. In vitro studies on metabolism and biochemical activities of entodiniomorphids are needed to clarify their role in ape digestion.

• MeSH
• Ciliophora klasifikace   izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• divoká zvířata MeSH
• ekosystém MeSH
• feces parazitologie   MeSH
• Gorilla gorilla parazitologie   MeSH
• infekce prvoky kmene Ciliophora epidemiologie   veterinární   MeSH
• nemoci lidoopů epidemiologie   MeSH
• Pan paniscus anatomie a histologie   parazitologie   MeSH
• Pan troglodytes anatomie a histologie   parazitologie   MeSH
• stromy MeSH
• symbióza MeSH
• zvířata v ZOO MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Uganda MeSH

The release of any species into a novel environment can evoke transmission of parasites that do not normally parasitize the host as well as potentially introducing new parasites into the environment. Species introductions potentially incur such risks, yet little is currently known about the parasite fauna of introduced primate species over the long term. We describe the results of long-term monitoring of the intestinal parasite fauna of an unprovisioned, reproducing population of chimpanzees introduced 40 years earlier (1966-1969) onto Rubondo Island in Lake Victoria, Tanzania, a non-native habitat for chimpanzees. Two parasitological surveys (March 1997-October 1998 and October 2002-December 2005) identified Entamoeba spp. including E. coli, Iodamoeba buetschlii, Troglodytella abrassarti, Chilomastix mesnili, Trichuris sp., Anatrichosoma sp., Strongyloides spp., Strongylida fam. gen. sp., Enterobius anthropopitheci, Subulura sp., Ascarididae gen. sp., and Protospirura muricola. The parasite fauna of the Rubondo chimpanzees is similar to wild chimpanzees living in their natural habitats, but Rubondo chimpanzees have a lower prevalence of strongylids (9%, 3.8%) and a higher prevalence of E. anthropopitheci (8.6%, 17.9%) than reported elsewhere. Species prevalence was similar between our two surveys, with the exception of Strongyloides spp. being higher in the first survey. None of these species are considered to pose a serious health risk to chimpanzees, but continued monitoring of the population and surveys of the parasitic fauna of the two coinhabitant primate species and other animals, natural reservoir hosts of some of the same parasites, is important to better understand the dynamics of host-parasite ecology and potential long-term implications for chimpanzees introduced into a new habitat.

• MeSH
• Amoeba izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• Ciliophora izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• Entamoeba izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• Enterobius izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• feces parazitologie   MeSH
• gastrointestinální trakt parazitologie   MeSH
• hlístice izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• interakce hostitele a parazita MeSH
• nemoci lidoopů parazitologie   přenos   MeSH
• Pan troglodytes parazitologie   MeSH
• parazitární nemoci u zvířat farmakoterapie   prevence a kontrola   přenos   MeSH
• Retortamonadidae izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• Strongyloides izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• Trichuris izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Tanzanie MeSH

Entodiniomorphid ciliates are often present in the colons of wild apes. In captive apes the infection tends to gradually disappear, with the exception of Troglodytella abrassarti. We used fecal examinations to screen the gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) in European (Czech Republic, UK) and Australian Zoos to explore the ape-to-ape transmission pattern of T. abrassarti. Gorillas from two out of three European Zoos were positive for T. abrassarti, while gorillas from the Australian Zoo were negative. We documented a horizontal transmission of T. abrassarti to a non-infected adult gorilla introduced into a Troglodytella-positive group in the Prague Zoo and traced the origin of the ciliate infection to the Paignton Zoo (UK) using serial fecal examinations. During this study, two infant gorillas born in the Prague Zoo (CZ) first became positive for T. abrassarti at the age of 9 mo. Ciliate morphology and the sequencing of the small subunit rRNA gene and the internal transcribed spacer rDNA spacer region revealed that T. abrassarti affects both captive gorillas and chimpanzees. We conclude that zoo transport plays a major role in the distribution of T. abrassarti among captive gorillas.

• MeSH
• Ciliophora genetika   izolace a purifikace   ultrastruktura   MeSH
• feces parazitologie   MeSH
• financování organizované MeSH
• fylogeneze MeSH
• Gorilla gorilla mikrobiologie   MeSH
• infekce prvoky kmene Ciliophora přenos   veterinární   MeSH
• mezerníky ribozomální DNA genetika   chemie   MeSH
• mikroskopie elektronová rastrovací MeSH
• molekulární sekvence - údaje MeSH
• přenos infekční nemoci MeSH
• protozoální DNA genetika   chemie   MeSH
• ribozomální DNA genetika   chemie   MeSH
• RNA ribozomální 18S genetika   MeSH
• sekvenční analýza DNA MeSH
• sekvenční homologie MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• zvířata MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Austrálie MeSH
• Česká republika MeSH
• Spojené království MeSH