A survey of entodiniomorphid ciliates in chimpanzees and bonobos

Bibliographic Data

ID8320922
AuthorsKaterina Pomajbíková, Kateřina Jirků‐Pomajbíková (0000-0001-5411-6082, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, corresponding author), Klára J Petrželková (0000-0001-9693-7567, Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Vertebrate Biology), Ilona Profousová (University of Veterinary Sciences Brno), Jana Petrášová (University of Veterinary Sciences Brno), Svetlana Kišidayová (0000-0001-6608-4903, Slovak Academy of Sciences), Zora Varádyová (0000-0003-3675-8641, Slovak Academy of Sciences), David Modrý (0000-0001-9649-6255, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno)
Year2010
Volume142
Issue1
Pages42-48
Publication date2010-05-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Journal of Physical Anthropology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0002-9483 • E-ISSN: 1096-8644
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/ajpa.21191
PMID19845028
OpenAlexW2127161733
LanguageEN
Citations received8
References cited47

Intestinal entodiniomorphid ciliates are commonly diagnosed in the feces of wild apes of the genera Pan and Gorilla . Although some authors previously considered entodiniomorphid ciliates as possible pathogens, a symbiotic function within the intestinal ecosystem and their participation in fiber fermentation has been proposed. Previous studies have suggested that these ciliates gradually disappear under captive conditions. We studied entodiniomorphid ciliates in 23 captive groups of chimpanzees, three groups of captive bonobos and six populations of wild chimpanzees. Fecal samples were examined using Sheather's flotation and Merthiolate‐Iodine‐Formaldehyde Concentration (MIFC) methods. We quantified the number of ciliates per gram of feces. The MIFC method was more sensitive for ciliate detection than the flotation method. Ciliates of genus Troglodytella were detected in 13 groups of captive chimpanzees, two groups of bonobos and in all wild chimpanzee populations studied. The absence of entodiniomorphids in some captive groups might be because of the extensive administration of chemotherapeutics in the past or a side‐effect of the causative or prophylactic administration of antiparasitic or antibiotic drugs. The infection intensities of ciliates in captive chimpanzees were higher than in wild ones. We suppose that the over‐supply of starch, typical in captive primate diets, might induce an increase in the number of ciliates. In vitro studies on metabolism and biochemical activities of entodiniomorphids are needed to clarify their role in ape digestion. Am J Phys Anthropol 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc

Biology · Digestion (alchemy) · Feces · Gorilla · Primate · Protozoa · Zoology · Chemistry · Ecology · Gut microbiota and health · Human-Animal Interaction Studies · Microbiology · Primate Behavior and Ecology

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