Patterns of parasitism in black-handed spider monkeys (atels geoffroyi) at Runaway Creek Nature Reserve, Belize
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2012
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Abstract
With advances in non-invasive methods for detecting parasite infection, there has been an influx of parasite studies on non-human primates. However, many non-human primate species have not been sampled and we do not know how various host characteristics affect an individual's susceptibility to parasite infections. The goals of this study were to identify the parasite genera present in a wild group of black-handed spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi), provide the first health assessment using parasite species richness of wild black-handed spider monkeys and to examine how various host characteristics such as age, sex, variation in contact affiliation and sub-grouping patterns affect the distribution of parasite genera within the group. I collected behavioral data and fecal samples from a group of 34 wild black-handed spider monkeys from January to June, 2010 at Runaway Creek Nature Reserve in Belize. I recovered nine parasite genera (Strongyloides spp., Trichostrongylus spp., Ascaris spp., Enterobius spp., Physaloptera spp., Oesophagostomum spp., Controrchis spp., Giardia spp., Balantidium coli). Six of the nine parasite genera are known to be pathogenic. However, an absence of deaths associated with parasitism and minimal behavioral signs of disease indicate that the overall health of the study group is relatively good. There was a trend for older individuals to have higher parasite species richness than younger individuals, but this was not significant. Age, sex and level of contact affiliation did not predict whether an individual would be infected with any parasite genera identified in the study. Individuals who associated more frequently in sub-groups were significantly more likely to share Strongyloides spp. infections. This is most likely because those individuals have more similar exposure to the infective larvae of Strongyloides spp. in the environment. Individuals who had higher levels of contact affiliation were not more likely to share infections of Strongyloides spp., Enterobius spp. or Giardia spp. This study represents the first intensive study of parasites in wild Ate/es geoffroyi and provides a base-line for the longĀterm health monitoring of the study group.
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Bibliography: p. 57-76
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Evans, K. J. (2012). Patterns of parasitism in black-handed spider monkeys (atels geoffroyi) at Runaway Creek Nature Reserve, Belize (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/4919