AUTHOR=Liu Xinchao , Bao Guangbin , Yue Menglong , Fang Yi , Gu Yueyue , Li Wenchao , Gu Youfang , Cheng Wangkun , Lu Mingmin 

TITLE=Prevalence and Molecular Identification of Entamoeba spp. in Non-human Primates in a Zoological Garden in Nanjing, China

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Veterinary Science

VOLUME=9

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2022.906822

DOI=10.3389/fvets.2022.906822

ISSN=2297-1769

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Objective</title><p><italic>Entamoeba</italic> spp. are globally distributed zoonotic parasites that infect various hosts, among which non-human primates (NHPs) have been identified as one of the most common hosts of these parasites. Consequently, the infections of <italic>Entamoeba</italic> spp. in captive NHPs from Nanjing Hongshan Forest Zoo in China were investigated in order to assess their zoonotic potential.</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>A total of 120 fresh fecal samples, including 19 species of NHPs, were collected from four breeding bases of the zoo from May to June 2019. The infections of six species of <italic>Entamoeba</italic> spp. were detected by PCR using the 16S or 18S rDNA-specific primers, and the positive samples were sequenced and analyzed.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p><italic>Entamoeba</italic> spp. were detected as positive in 59 NHPs fecal samples (49.17%), including five <italic>Entamoeba</italic> species: <italic>Entamoeba histolytica</italic> (7.50%), <italic>E. dispar</italic> (22.50%), <italic>E. coli</italic> (22.50%), <italic>E. chattoni</italic> (10.00%) and <italic>E. nuttalli</italic> (1.67%). Infection with one <italic>Entamoeba</italic> species was more common (35%) than co-infections (13.33%) or infections with three <italic>Entamoeba</italic> species (0.83%). There was a significantly higher prevalence rate of <italic>Entamoeba</italic> spp. in the species <italic>Pongo pygmaeus</italic> and <italic>Macaca mulatta</italic> than in <italic>Papio</italic> sp., <italic>Mandrillus sphinx</italic>, and <italic>Saimiri sciureus</italic>.</p></sec><sec><title>Conclusion</title><p><italic>Entamoeba</italic> spp. are highly prevalent in the NHPs raised in Nanjing Hongshan Forest Zoo. Therefore, attention should be paid to the development of containment strategies of <italic>Entamoeba</italic> spp. in this zoological garden.</p></sec>