Monitoring intestinal parasites in Alouatta pigra at the Lacandon forest, Chiapas

This study investigates the prevalence of intestinal parasites in Alouatta pigra inhabiting the southern region of the Lacandona forest, Chiapas, Mexico Thirty-nine fecal samples were collected from A. pigra that inhabits conserved and disturbed areas. The overall prevalence was 38.5%. Notably, disturbed areas exhibited a higher prevalence (46.2%) than conserved areas (23.1%); however, these differences were not statistically significant. The most frequently identified parasites included Controrchis sp., Strongyloides sp., Entamoeba sp., and Giardia intestinalis, with cases of polyparasitism observed exclusively in disturbed areas. These findings underscore the impact of habitat fragmentation and proximity to human settlements on the increased prevalence of parasitosis in A. pigra, potentially attributable to heightened interactions among humans, domestic animals, and wildlife. The study emphasizes the urgent need for conservation strategies that focus on protecting and restoring natural ecosystems, ongoing health monitoring of primate populations, and applying molecular techniques for accurate parasite identification and elucidation of their transmission dynamics. Such initiatives are crucial for mitigating the effects of anthropogenic activity and ensuring the long-term viability of the A. pigra population.本研究针对栖息于墨西哥恰帕斯州拉坎顿森林南部的鬃毛吼猴（Alouatta pigra）开展肠道寄生虫感染率调查。研究人员从栖息于保护型与干扰型生境的该种群中共采集39份粪便样本，整体感染率达38.5%。值得注意的是，干扰型生境中的感染率（46.2%）高于保护型生境（23.1%），但该差异未达到统计学显著性水平。本次检测到的优势寄生虫类群包括孔吸虫属（Controrchis sp.）、类圆线虫属（Strongyloides sp.）、内阿米巴属（Entamoeba sp.）以及蓝氏贾第鞭毛虫（Giardia intestinalis），且多寄生现象仅见于干扰型生境的个体中。上述研究结果证实，生境破碎化以及与人类定居点的空间邻近性会升高鬃毛吼猴的寄生虫病感染率，该现象可能与人类、家畜与野生动物之间的交互活动加剧密切相关。本研究强调亟需制定针对性保护策略，具体包括保护与修复自然生态系统、持续开展灵长类种群健康监测，以及应用分子技术实现寄生虫的精准鉴定与传播动态解析。此类举措对于减轻人类活动的负面影响、保障鬃毛吼猴种群的长期存续至关重要。