Occurrence and Genetic Diversity of Protist Parasites in Captive Non-Human Primates, Zookeepers, and Free-Living Sympatric Rats in the Córdoba Zoo Conservation Centre, Southern Spain
Pamela C. Köster,
Alejandro Dashti,
Begoña Bailo,
Aly S. Muadica,
Jenny G. Maloney,
Mónica Santín,
Carmen Chicharro,
Silvia Migueláñez,
Francisco J. Nieto,
David Cano-Terriza,
Ignacio García-Bocanegra,
Rafael Guerra,
Francisco Ponce-Gordo,
Rafael Calero-Bernal,
David González-Barrio,
David Carmena
Affiliations
Pamela C. Köster
Parasitology Reference and Research Laboratory, Spanish National Centre for Microbiology, 28220 Madrid, Spain
Alejandro Dashti
Parasitology Reference and Research Laboratory, Spanish National Centre for Microbiology, 28220 Madrid, Spain
Begoña Bailo
Parasitology Reference and Research Laboratory, Spanish National Centre for Microbiology, 28220 Madrid, Spain
Aly S. Muadica
Parasitology Reference and Research Laboratory, Spanish National Centre for Microbiology, 28220 Madrid, Spain
Jenny G. Maloney
Environmental Microbial and Food Safety Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD 20705-2350, USA
Mónica Santín
Environmental Microbial and Food Safety Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD 20705-2350, USA
Carmen Chicharro
Parasitology Reference and Research Laboratory, Spanish National Centre for Microbiology, 28220 Madrid, Spain
Silvia Migueláñez
Parasitology Reference and Research Laboratory, Spanish National Centre for Microbiology, 28220 Madrid, Spain
Francisco J. Nieto
Parasitology Reference and Research Laboratory, Spanish National Centre for Microbiology, 28220 Madrid, Spain
David Cano-Terriza
Animal Health and Zoonosis Research Group (GISAZ), Department of Animal Health, University of Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain
Ignacio García-Bocanegra
Animal Health and Zoonosis Research Group (GISAZ), Department of Animal Health, University of Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain
Rafael Guerra
Veterinary Services, Córdoba Zoo Conservation Centre, 14071 Córdoba, Spain
Francisco Ponce-Gordo
Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Rafael Calero-Bernal
SALUVET, Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
David González-Barrio
Parasitology Reference and Research Laboratory, Spanish National Centre for Microbiology, 28220 Madrid, Spain
David Carmena
Parasitology Reference and Research Laboratory, Spanish National Centre for Microbiology, 28220 Madrid, Spain
Little information is currently available on the epidemiology of parasitic and commensal protist species in captive non-human primates (NHP) and their zoonotic potential. This study investigates the occurrence, molecular diversity, and potential transmission dynamics of parasitic and commensal protist species in a zoological garden in southern Spain. The prevalence and genotypes of the main enteric protist species were investigated in faecal samples from NHP (n = 51), zookeepers (n = 19) and free-living rats (n = 64) by molecular (PCR and sequencing) methods between 2018 and 2019. The presence of Leishmania spp. was also investigated in tissues from sympatric rats using PCR. Blastocystis sp. (45.1%), Entamoeba dispar (27.5%), Giardia duodenalis (21.6%), Balantioides coli (3.9%), and Enterocytozoon bieneusi (2.0%) (but not Troglodytella spp.) were detected in NHP. Giardia duodenalis (10.5%) and Blastocystis sp. (10.5%) were identified in zookeepers, while Cryptosporidium spp. (45.3%), G. duodenalis (14.1%), and Blastocystis sp. (6.25%) (but not Leishmania spp.) were detected in rats. Blastocystis ST1, ST3, and ST8 and G. duodenalis sub-assemblage AII were identified in NHP, and Blastocystis ST1 in zookeepers. Giardia duodenalis isolates failed to be genotyped in human samples. In rats, four Cryptosporidium (C. muris, C. ratti, and rat genotypes IV and V), one G. duodenalis (assemblage G), and three Blastocystis (ST4) genetic variants were detected. Our results indicate high exposure of NHP to zoonotic protist species. Zoonotic transmission of Blastocysts ST1 was highly suspected between captive NHP and zookeepers.
