A Survey of the Gastrointestinal Parasites Infecting Macaca fascicularis and Their Zoonotic Implications in Brunei Darussalam

Abstract

The majority of emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) are caused by zoonotic transmission (Taylor, Latham et al. 2001). This number is increasing due to anthropogenic changes and intrusion into wildlife’s natural habitat (Krause 1994). In Brunei Darussalam, macaques and humans live in close proximity as macaques have adapted to human presence in such a way that they live in urban areas and have regular contact with people. This study surveys the gastrointestinal parasite communities infecting macaques in populated residential areas of Brunei Darussalam. I took samples from two large groups of macaques, taking 26 samples from a group in Bukit Shahbandar recreational park and 12 samples from a group in the Mabohai shopping center, as well as 4 samples from elsewhere in Brunei in which I did not observe the macaques they came from. I found 100% prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in the macaque communities. Several of the genera found in the macaques can also infect humans, including Strongyloides, Trichostrongylus, Oesophagostomum, Paragonimus, Gastrodiscoides, Ascaris, Trichuris, Ancylostoma, Chlonorchis, Fasciola, and Enterobius. The high prevalence and intensity of potentially cross-infecting gastrointestinal parasites in these macaques indicate that the macaques in Brunei Darussalam pose a public health risk to the people in contact with them.