Cryptosporidium and Giardia Prevalence Amongst Lemurs, Humans, Domestic Animals and Black Rats in Tsinjoarivo, Madagascar

Author ORCID Identifier

Laurie Spencer:https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6387-9006

Mitchell Irwin:https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2088-0028

Publication Title

Heliyon

ISSN

24058440

E-ISSN

44136

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Few studies have measured the prevalence of Cryptosporidium sp. and Giardia sp. infections in Madagascar. This project provides baseline data of these pathogens in humans and other mammals in Tsinjoarivo. Fecal samples were collected May–July 2014 from lemurs (Propithecus diadema and Hapalemur griseus), humans, domestic animals (cattle, pigs and dogs), and black rats (Rattus rattus). Samples were analyzed utilizing immunofluorescence assay. No lemurs were positive for either parasite. Cryptosporidium sp. was found in humans (10%), cattle (20%), pigs (20%), dogs (15%) and rats (38%), and Giardia sp. was found in humans (10%), pigs (40%), dogs (29%) and rats (53%). Coinfections were noted in humans (6%), pigs (20%), dogs (15%) and rats (33%). All human subjects reported daily contact with domestic animals and rats, and all infected humans were ≤13 years old. Human population growth and increasing human-wildlife encounters make it critical to understand the potential for zoonotic pathogen transmission.

Publication Date

11-1-2020

DOI

10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e05604

Keywords

Black rats, Cryptosporidium, Domestic animals, Giardia, Humans, Infectious disease, Lemurs, Microbiology, Public health, Zoology

Department

Department of Biological Sciences; Department of Anthropology

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