Gastrointestinal parasites
The effects of urbanization on gastrointestinal parasite species diversity and prevalence in baboons in the Cape Peninsula, South Africa
Summary of project
Background information
Wildlife habitat disturbance by humans can lead to health issues that are still poorly understood, such as the alteration of host-parasite dynamics. Little is even known about factors that influence the host range of parasites in natural populations (Pedersen et al 2005). In particular, increased contact between human and non-human primates increases the possibility of parasite transmission in both directions and of sharing infectious diseases (Appleton 1989; Chapman et al 2005). More than 100 parasite species, some of which emerge in humans (Pedersen et al 2005), are shared between wild primates and humans. It is thus highly probable, that the Baboons of the Cape Peninsula, are at high risk of parasite infections and other infectious diseases from their neighbouring human reservoir. Given that this population is geographically isolated from other wild populations it is possible that they will experience a genetic bottleneck. Reduced genetic diversity increases the susceptibility of organisms to a range of parasites and pathogens (Charlesworth & Charlesworth 1999) and may ultimately threaten the population with localised extinction.
Aims of the project
This study aims to investigate how an ecological process, namely parasite infection dynamics, is being affected by urbanization in a geographically isolated and fragmented population of Chacma baboons (Papio hamadryas ursinus).
The risk of infection in primates living in fragmented landscapes is increased by a range of factors. These include a decrease in availability of adequate nutritional resources, reduction of home range size and constant reuse of terrestrial pathways, coupled to contamination from proximity of humans and domestic animals such as cattle, horses, dogs, etc. Such risks may have important negative consequences on the general health and growth potential of this population.
We will compare the prevalence and species richness of gastrointestinal parasites in addition to the proportion of multiple infections in four baboon troops within the Cape Peninsula. These troops have limited contact with one another and differ in the degree of human interaction and habitat disturbance.
The geographic isolation of the 4 study troops offers a quasi-experimental setting, with each troop being part of an independent meta-population, since dispersal among troops is rare. Therefore, it is possible to relate different troop attributes to disease profiles of these troops and investigate how these attributes inter-relate, and what role human contact and anthropogenic disturbance plays in parasite prevalence and richness in baboons. It will also be possible to compare parasite prevalence and richness with other studies done in other parts of South Africa and Africa on Chacma baboons.
With this project we also aim to gain an understanding of the potential for humans and their domestic livestock to transmit parasites to these primates. We will simultaneously ascertain whether baboons are acting as a reservoir for zoonotic parasites.
The methods to be used for data collection in this study are non-invasive and include the collection of faeces from known individuals and the simultaneous recording of troop movement patterns. We will also collect data on ranging behaviour, frequency of use of sleeping sites and the frequency of interaction with humans and domestic animals. Together these data will provide local conservation authorities with the first empirical data with which to improve their management of the population.
References
Appleton CC (1989). Transmission of helminth parasites between non-human primates and man in South Africa. Primate Report 25: 29-33.
Chapman CA, Gillespie TR, and Goldberg TL (2005a). Primates and the ecology of their infectious diseases: how will anthropogenic change affect host-parasite interactions? Evol Anthropol 14: 134-144.
Charlesworth B & Charlesworth D (1999). The genetic basis of inbreeding depression. Genet Res 74: 329-340.
Pedersen AB, Altizer S, Poss M, Cunningham AA, and Nunn CL (2005). Patterns of host specificity and transmission among parasites of wild primates. Int J Parasitol 35(6): 647-657.
