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区域的尤卡坦吼猴（Alouatta pigra）的肠道寄生虫感染率展开调查。研究人员从栖息于受保护与受干扰生境中的该物种个体中共采集到39份粪便样本，整体感染率为38.5%。值得注意的是，受干扰生境中的感染率（46.2%）高于受保护生境（23.1%），但该差异未达到统计学显著性水平。本次研究检出的常见寄生虫包括康脱吸虫属（Controrchis sp.）、类圆线虫属（Strongyloides sp.）、内阿米巴属（Entamoeba sp.）以及肠道贾第虫（Giardia intestinalis），且混合感染病例仅见于受干扰生境中。上述研究结果证实，生境破碎化以及与人类定居点的邻近性会提升该物种的寄生虫病感染率，这一现象可能源于人类、家畜与野生动物之间的互动频次增加。本研究强调，亟需制定兼顾保护与恢复自然生态系统、持续开展灵长类种群健康监测、应用分子技术实现寄生虫精准鉴定并阐明其传播动态的保护策略，此类举措对于缓解人类活动带来的影响、保障该物种种群的长期存续至关重要。