Prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in Rhesus Macaques (Macaca Mulatta) and Human communtiy in Daunne, Nawalpur, Nepal

Abstract

Rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta, order: Primates, suborder: Haplorhini, family: Cercopithecidae) are distributed across Nepal which includes the whole Terai and Churia range as well as found within all of Nepal’s protected areas up to 2,440 m elevation. Rhesus macaques and human have close relationship regarding their distribution, physiology and genetic characters which can cause transmission of infectious agents like gut parasites. This study aimed to provide information about prevalence of Gastro-intestinal (GI) parasites in rhesus macaques and its comparison with the parasitic prevalence of human community in Daunne, Nepal. A total of 120 rhesus macaque’s fecal samples and 70 human fecal samples was collected from October 2021 to May 2022. Microscopical examination of fecal samples were done by direct wet mount and concentration method, floatation and sedimentation method. Parasitic prevalence rate of 39.2% was observed in rhesus macaques with highest prevalence of Strongyloides sp. (19.17%) followed by Ascaris sp. (13.33 %), Hookworm (10.83%) and Trichuris sp. (4.17%). Only single and double parasite infections were observed with rate of 30.83% and 8.33%, respectively, showing the mean richness of parasites 0.41 ± 0.49 (SD). Parasitic prevalence in the summer season (41.4%) was found to be higher than that in the winter season (36%) but no significant difference was observed (χ²=0.361, df = 1, P=0.575). GI parasitic prevalence rates were 41.67% in adults, 30.77% in young and 27.27% in infants. Among 96 adult monkey samples, parasitic prevalence rate in adult females (52.46 %) was higher than in males (22.86 %) with significant difference (χ²=8.018, P=0.005). Only one parasite species Ascaris sp. was detected in human samples with prevalence rate of 11.3% which is lower than in macaques of the study area. Findings of this study is useful for information on temple primates and adoption of effective management strategy.