Diversity and prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in two wild Galago species in Gabon.

In this study, we characterize the diversity and estimated infection levels of gastrointestinal parasites circulating in two galago species, Galago demidoff and G. thomasi in two sites situated in the Southeastern forests of Gabon. Our study reveals that eleven parasites including nine helminthes (Ascaris spp., Ankylostoma spp., Dicrocoelium spp., Gongylonema spp., Oesophagostomum spp., Lemuricola spp., Strongyloides spp. Trichostrongylus spp. and Trichuris spp.) and two protozoans (Balantidium spp. and Entamoeba spp.) may infect Galago spp. with high infection rates. The results show that: a very similar parasite spectrum is found in both host species; all the taxa identified were previously observed in other Primate species and/or Man. They also show that age, gender and forest type may influence infection rates and/or parasite diversity found in a particular host and/or geographic area.

First description of demodicosis in 12 galagos (Galago senegalensis).

Twelve Galago senegalensis from the Moscow Zoo were presented with papular to nodular (2-11 mm) lesions on the pinnae, containing a white, waxy material. Microscopic examination revealed large numbers of mites consistent with the morphology of Demodex spp. mites. Nine animals were treated with ivermectin, 600 µg/kg/day topically, orally or subcutaneously for 3-10 months, while one remained untreated. All the treated animals achieved clinical remission. The control animal was still affected and died 11 months later due to pneumonia and possible eosinophilic leukaemia. No adverse effects were noted in any animals during the treatment. No animal relapsed in the 13-19 months follow-up period. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of demodicosis in G. senegalensis. The use of ivermectin in G. senegalensis was safe, although its effectiveness in the treatment of demodicosis needs further investigation.

Revision of the genus Galagocheles Fain (Acari: Cheyletidae), parasites of galagos (Primates: Galagonidae).

Galagocheles Fain, 1979 (Acari: Cheyletidae), comprising permanent parasites of African prosimian primates (Galagonidae), is revised. An amended diagnosis of the genus based on characters of adults and immatures is given. The type-species, G. lemuricola (Lawrence, 1948), from Otolemur garnetti (Ogilby) (type-host) and O. crassicaudatus Geoffroy, is redescribed, and G. lawrencei n. sp. is described from Galago senegalensis Geoffroy (type-host) and G. moholi Smith. The new species differs from G. lemuricola by its smaller body size, the obtuse posterior end of the opisthosoma in males, and by fine, nude setae ps3 in females. The systematics of the cheyletid tribe Niheliini and host-parasite associations of its species are briefly discussed. The tribe Criokerontini is included to the tribe Niheliini. It is suggested that the ancestors of the tribe Niheliini were predaceous cheyletids associated with the nests of arboreal mammals, and the association of Nihelia spp. on mongooses (Herpestidae) is the result of the host-switching from some ancient arboreal mammal.

Morphology and morphometrics of three oxyurids parasitic in primates with a description of Lemuricola microcebi n. sp.

Classical and morphometric analyses were conducted on several samples of oxyurid nematodes parasitic in strepsirrhine primates: Cheirogaleus major, Galago senegalensis, and Microcebus murinus. A diagnosis of Lemuricola contagiosus Chabaud & Petter, 1959 from C. major is given using syntypes, from which a lectotype is selected. The rest of the specimens were compared to L. contagiosus. From measurements taken from each sex, an initial Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was performed on log-transformed data and a second PCA was performed on log-shape ratios after elimination of the isometric differences. The parasites collected from M. murinus, which can be differentiated from the closely related L. contagiosus by both standard morphological characters and morphometric variables, are described as Lemuricola microcebi n. sp. The parasites collected from Galago are morphologically very similar to L. microcebi n. sp. The most probable explanation for this resemblance is considered to be a transfer from Microcebus to Galago but, due to the small numbers of individuals in our samples, it is impossible to eliminate the possibility that the parasites of Galago belong to an undescribed species. Until more material or information can be obtained, it is proposed to refer to the parasites from Galago as Lemuricola sp.

New species of Neotrombicula (Acari: Trombiculidae) from African primates (Galagidae and Cercopithecidae).

Neotrombicula kenyaensis Goff and Neotrombicula centrafricana Goff are described as new from specimens collected from the primates Galago senegalensis E. Geoffroy (Fam. Galagidae) in Kenya and Allenopithecus nigroviridis (Pocock) (Fam. Cercopithecidae) in Central Africa, respectively.

Leishmania major: the suitability of East African nonhuman primates as animal models for cutaneous leishmaniasis.

The susceptibility of four species of East African nonhuman primates to experimental infection with Leishmania major was investigated. Four Syke's monkeys (Cercopithecus mitis), two vervet monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops), two baboons (Papio cynocephalus), and two brown bushbabies (Galago garnettii) were each inoculated intradermally on the left eyelid, left ear, and nose with 0.1 ml of medium containing 1 x 10(7) promastigotes of a characterized L. major strain. All the nonhuman primates except the bushbabies developed erythema and conspicuous nodules on the eyelids and ears by 3 weeks PI. The nodules increased rapidly in size and ulceration was evident on the eyelids and ears by 49 days PI in the vervets, Syke's, and baboons. The aspirates were positive in culture or smears at 35, 49, 63, and 77 days PI. No parasites were observed in cultures or smears at 92, 105, 128, 147, and 161 days PI. The lesions in these animals began resolving by 84 days PI and were completely healed by 112 days PI. The exception was one baboon in which lesion healing did not start until around 147 days and was completely healed by 182 days PI. Cultures from the liver failed to demonstrate visceralization of the parasite in any of the animals throughout the 68 weeks of the experiment. Challenge with the same strain of L. major 6 months PI, corresponding to about 3 months after self cure, failed to produce infection in any of these experimental hosts. All the nonhuman primates except the bushbaby when challenged with the same strain of L. major at 12 months PI developed lesions and were positive for parasites at 14 and 28 days PI. Positive cultures were obtained from the eyelid and ear of one vervet up to 42 days PI. However, the lesion sizes in all these animals were smaller than in the initial infection and did not ulcerate. The nodules disappeared within 6 to 8 weeks as compared to 16 weeks in the initial infection. The histopathological appearance of the lesions varied from diffuse infiltration of plasma cells and lymphocytes which increased progressively to granulomata with epitheloid cells. This study shows that the vervets, Syke's, and the baboons are equally susceptible to L. major infection, while bushbabies are refractory. The vervets, Syke's, and baboons demonstrate a self-healing phenomenon within about 3 months which is comparable to that observed in humans infected with L. major. These three species of nonhuman primates are therefore considered as suitable models for drug or vaccine trials against human zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Attempts to establish Onchocerca volvulus infection in primates and small laboratory animals.

Attempts were made to transmit O. volvulus infection to small laboratory animals and several species of primates to identify a practical laboratory host for human onchocerciasis. Infective larvae of O. volvulus of Guatemalan origin were inoculated into the following animals: rhesus monkeys, bonnet monkeys, golden spider monkeys, black spider monkeys, galagos, opossums, jirds, newborn and adult Swiss mice, kinkajou, cebus monkey, normal and splenectomized multimammate rats, and a calf. The animals were examined for signs of developing infection for up to two years after inoculation. None of the animals tested developed a patent infection, and neither larvae nor O. volvulus adults were found during the necropsy of all the animals which died or were killed during or at the end of the examination period. It is concluded that none of the animals tested is susceptible to infection with O. volvulus.

Fatal parasitism among free living bushbabies (galago crassicaudatus).

Four cases of severe parasitism due to Primasubulura otolicini in adult bush babies (Galago crassicaudatus) are described.