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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
agricultural and biological sciences
Anti-helminth-induced changes in the prevalence of entodiniomorphid ciliates in semi-captive chimpanzees
African Journal of Ecology, Volume 50, No. 1, Year 2012
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Description
Ciliates are some of the most abundant gut fauna in wild chimpanzees. However, their presence in captive populations is usually low presumably due to anti-helmintic prophylaxis or feeding on low fibre diet. We studied a semi-captive colony of chimpanzees at the Sweetwaters Sanctuary in Kenya subject to routine prophylactic dose of albendazole to clear chimpanzees of parasitic helminths. Fresh faecal samples from known individuals were collected before and subsequently after prophylaxis. The samples were fixed in 10% formalin and examined by the sedimentation method. Troglodytella abrassarti had 42.5% prevalence whereas other ciliates had 65% prevalence. The prevalence of the T. abrassarti and other ciliates significantly declined immediately after prophylaxis and then rose slowly thereafter. Our results suggest that ciliates are susceptible to anti-helmintic prophylaxis and that treatment may eliminate ciliates or inhibit their proliferation within the host subsequently lowering their prevalence in the population. Variation in prevalence was not influenced by the age of the host. However, a steady recovery of ciliate prevalence was lower for male compared to female hosts. Our results imply that the intervals between prophylactic regimes could be prolonged differently for males and females to increase the prevalence of ciliates in captive populations. © 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
Authors & Co-Authors
Obanda, Vincent O.
Kenya, Nairobi
Kenya Wildlife Service
Stephen, Chege
United Arab Emirates, Al Ain
Al Ain Wildlife Park and Resort
Patrick, Chiyo
United States, Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
Statistics
Citations: 3
Authors: 3
Affiliations: 3
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1111/j.1365-2028.2011.01294.x
ISSN:
01416707
e-ISSN:
13652028
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Study Locations
Kenya
Participants Gender
Male
Female