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Intestinal parasites and bacteria of mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda

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Abstract

A survey in 1994 examined intestinal helminths and bacterial flora of mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda. Parasites and bacteria were identified to genus in the feces of two groups of tourist-habituated and one group of non-tourist-habituated mountain gorillas. Eggs were identified as those of an anoplocephalid cestode, and nematode eggs representative of the genera: Trichuris, Ascaris, Oesophagostomum, Strongyloides, and Trichostrongylus. This is the first report of Ascaris lumbricoides-like eggs in mountain gorillas. Fecal samples (n=76) from all groups contained helminth eggs, with strongyle eggs and anoplocephalid eggs being the most common. Salmonella and Campylobacter were found in both gorilla groups. Regular long-term non-invasive fecal monitoring of the populations of mountain gorillas is essential for the prevention and identification of potential health threats by intestinal parasites and bacteria in this highly endangered subspecies.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge and thank Uganda National Parks director, Dr. Eric Edroma and International Gorilla Conservation Programme (IGCP) director, Jose Kalpers for permission and support to carry out this research, and the Zebra Foundation for funding the research. The authors would also like to thank Dr. Liz Macfie, IGCP; and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park warden, Ignatius Achoka, rangers and Peace Corp volunteers; Dr. Ludwig Siefert, Walter Agai, and Kitimbo from Makerere University Veterinary Faculty; Mel Hutchinson, Dr. Andrew Rycroft and Dot Peters from the Royal Veterinary College, University of London; Dr. Jake Reynolds, World Conservation Monitoring Center; Dr. Hammerberger, North Carolina State University; Professor Vernon Reynolds, Oxford University Department of Anthropology for help with data analysis; Fiona Tripp from Olympus Cameras for the loan of a camera; and Mrs. Rhoda Kalema for logistical assistance. The authors would also like to thank Professor Dwight Bowman at Cornell University and two anonymous reviewers for editorial assistance and comments on the manuscript.

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Author notes

  1. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka

    Present address: Conservation Through Public Health, Plot 39 Babiiha Avenue, P.O. Box 10950, Kampala, Uganda

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology and Infectious Disease, The Royal Veterinary College, Royal College Street, London, NWI 0TU, UK

    Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka & Mark T. Fox

  2. Department of Animal Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA

    Jessica M. Rothman

Authors
  1. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka
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  2. Jessica M. Rothman
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  3. Mark T. Fox
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Correspondence to Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka.

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Kalema-Zikusoka, G., Rothman, J.M. & Fox, M.T. Intestinal parasites and bacteria of mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda. Primates 46, 59–63 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10329-004-0103-y

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