a 2016

Intestinal parasites of wild orangutans in Gunung Palung National Park, Borneo, Indonesia

O'CONNELL, CAITLIN, CHERYL KNOTT and Ivona FOITOVÁ

Basic information

Original name

Intestinal parasites of wild orangutans in Gunung Palung National Park, Borneo, Indonesia

Authors

O'CONNELL, CAITLIN (840 United States of America), CHERYL KNOTT (840 United States of America) and Ivona FOITOVÁ (203 Czech Republic, guarantor, belonging to the institution)

Edition

Meeting of the American Association of Physical Anthropologists (AAPA) in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, 2016

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Konferenční abstrakt

Field of Study

10600 1.6 Biological sciences

Country of publisher

United States of America

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

RIV identification code

RIV/00216224:14310/16:00089613

Organization unit

Faculty of Science

UT WoS

000371255202031

Keywords (in Czech)

orangutan; parasites

Keywords in English

orangutan; parasites
Změněno: 15/4/2020 10:46, Mgr. Marie Šípková, DiS.

Abstract

V originále

Parasitology is increasingly employed by field primatologists to better understand the ecology and health of wild primate populations. This study examined the intestinal parasites of wild Bornean orangutans in Gunung Palung National Park. Gunung Palung is relatively pristine orangutan habitat, while many other orangutan sites consist of degraded secondary forest. As habitat disturbance and contact with humans are known to increase parasite infection in wild primates, the Gunung Palung population was predicted to have low overall parasite prevalence. Using direct smear and fecal concentration techniques on-site at the research camp, fecal samples were analyzed and parasites identified based on morphological characteristics viewed through a light microscope. At least one type of parasite species was detected in every sample (N=152) from every individual (N=38) that was tested. No other wild orangutan study thus far has reported 100% parasite prevalence. Strongyle -type eggs, Balantidium sp. and Entamoeba sp., each show remarkably high prevalence, approaching 100%. Also of note is the high prevalence ofTrichuris sp. in Gunung Palung compared to reports from other wild orangutan populations (20% at Gunung Palung, while never higher than 7% at other wild study sites). We discuss these surprising results and the potential influential factors, including methodological considerations and conservation issues. Various orangutan behaviors, including socializing and ground travel, may help explain these results as well, highlighting the importance of long-term monitoring of parasite infection.