Molecular characterisation of protist parasites in human-habituated mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei), humans and livestock, from Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda

A molecular analysis of protist parasites in mountain gorillas, humans, and livestock around Bwindi Impenetrable National Park revealed that 54.6% of the 203 samples contained globally documented parasite species or genotypes, including Cryptosporidium parvum, Giardia duodenalis (assemblages A, B, E), and Entamoeba. Notably, C. parvum was detected in both a mountain gorilla and a goat, while Giardia and Entamoeba were found across humans and cattle. The study identified 76 new sequence records, highlighting the need for further epidemiological investigations to assess zoonotic/zooanthroponotic potential in this impoverished region.

Nolan, M. J., Unger, M., Yeap, Y.-T., Rogers, E., Millet, I., Harman, K., Fox, M., Kalema-Zikusoka, G., & Blake, D. P. (2017). Molecular characterisation of protist parasites in human-habituated mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei), humans and livestock, from Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda. Parasites & Vectors, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-017-2283-5