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Variation over Time in Parasite Prevalence Among Free-ranging Chimpanzees at Gombe National Park, Tanzania

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Abstract

From January to September, 2005, we collected fecal samples from 60 chimpanzees at Gombe National Park, Tanzania and examined them for parasites. We compared current parasite prevalence data with previous studies to obtain a pattern of parasitism over time. There were considerable similarities in the parasite species composition and prevalence, although we noted some variations. Generally, parasite prevalence decreased over time, with the present prevalence being lower than in previous surveys. We identified 8 types of parasites, all of which had previously been documented in the chimpanzees of Gombe. Three nematodes — Oesophagostomum sp., Strongyloides fulleborni, and Abbreviata caucassica— occurred at higher prevalence (41.2–45.5%) but relatively lower than previous findings of 50–91%. We also diagnosed unidentified strongyles at a moderate prevalence (33%), lower than a previous record of 41%. Probstmayria gombensis occurred at relatively low prevalence (16.4%) vs. past observations (23–59%), while the prevalence of Trichuris sp. (7.3%) was closely similar to previous records of 5–9%. We also observed unidentified ciliate at 9% within the same range as in previous studies (5–28%). The prevalence of Troglodytella abrassarti was 78%, closely similar to previous findings of 75%. There was no significant variation in parasite prevalence between chimpanzees of the Kasekela community and those of the Mitumba community, although the former tended to have higher prevalence of helminths than the latter. The causes of the similarities and variations in parasite prevalence over time are discussed. The study provides baseline data for monitoring of chimpanzee health at Gombe.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the Jane Goodall Institute, Tanzania and the Lincoln Park Zoo of Chicago for financing this study, and the Gombe Stream Research Centre and Gombe National Park for facilitating our fieldwork at Gombe. We also thank M. A. Mtambo for allowing us to carry out part of the laboratory work in the Veterinary Clinic at Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA). We also thank the laboratory technicians at SUA, particularly Mr. A. Kitime and Mr. Mkuchu for their assistance during sample examination. We thank A. Collins, S. Kamenya, and M. Wilson for their advice throughout the study. We also thank field assistants at Gombe for helping to collect the samples. We thank H. Hasegawa, G. Thomas, and P. Joel for their assistance in identifying the parasites and M. A. Huffman for providing helpful comments on the manuscript.

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  1. Department of Biological Sciences, Dar es Salaam University College of Education, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

    Jared S. Bakuza

  2. Department of Zoology and Wildlife Conservation, University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

    Jared S. Bakuza & Gamba Nkwengulila

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  1. Jared S. Bakuza
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Correspondence to Jared S. Bakuza.

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Bakuza, J.S., Nkwengulila, G. Variation over Time in Parasite Prevalence Among Free-ranging Chimpanzees at Gombe National Park, Tanzania. Int J Primatol 30, 43–53 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10764-008-9329-7

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