Molecular evidence for sustained transmission of zoonotic Ascaris suum among zoo chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes)

Peter Nejsum, Mads Frost Bertelsen, Martha Betson, Russel Stothard, Darwin Murrell

Research output: Contribution to conferenceConference abstract for conferenceResearch

Abstract

Chimpanzees in the Copenhagen Zoo frequently excrete ascarid worms onto the cage floor inspite of a regular anthelmintic treatment program. Previously it had been shown that the source of the infections was of pig origin. However, it was unknown whether the recurrence of the infection was due to reintroduction of eggs from an external source or to a sustained transmission cycle within the Zoo. We found that isolated eggs were able to embryonate into the infective stage and PCR-RFLP analysis on the ITS region amplified from single embryonated eggs suggest these to be Ascaris suum. In addition, sequence analysis of the cox1 gene (‘barcoding') on expelled worms followed by cluster analysis revealed that the chimpanzees are infected with pig A. suum which now, in spite of control efforts, has stabilized into a permanent transmission cycle in the Zoo's chimpanzee troop
Original languageEnglish
Publication date2010
Number of pages1
Publication statusPublished - 2010
Externally publishedYes
EventJoint Spring Symposium of the Danish Society for Parasitology & Danish Society for Tropical Medicine and International Health - Copenhagen, Denmark
Duration: 30 Apr 200430 Apr 2004

Conference

ConferenceJoint Spring Symposium of the Danish Society for Parasitology & Danish Society for Tropical Medicine and International Health
Country/TerritoryDenmark
CityCopenhagen
Period30/04/200430/04/2004

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