| dc.description.abstract | This study aimed to establish the pattern of zoonotic helminth co-infections among chimpanzees
of Sonso and Waibira chimpanzee communities in Budongo Forest, Masindi district. A
retrospective study was conducted reviewing parasitology data collected from chimpanzees of
Sonso and Waibira between 2013 and 2019 to determine the patterns of zoonotic helminths co infections wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). Fresh fecal samples were collected soon after
defecation non-invasively into fecal collection tubes and were analyzed for gastrointestinal
helminthes using floatation and sedimentation methods. Microsoft Excel software and Python
version 3.8 were used for all statistical analyses. Generally, mean levels of zoonotic helminths
co-infections of both female and male chimpanzees of Sonso community were higher than those
of Waibira. Infants of Waibira had higher mean levels of co-infections than those of Sonso, and
the mean levels of co-infections in the wet season were higher than those in the dry season in
both chimpanzee communities. Where two co-infections were observed, Oesophagostomum and
Strongyloides spp were the most common in both chimpanzee communities. Where three co infections were observed, Oesophagostomum, Hookworm and Trichostrongylus spp were the
most common in both chimpanzee communities. And where four co-infections were observed,
Oesophagostomum, Hookworm, Strongyloides and Tapeworm spp were the most common in
Sonso while Oesophagostomum, Hookworm, Strongyloides and Trichostrongylus spp in Waibira.
I recommend that a similar study on these helminths in the same study area and population
should be done using climate data from 2013 to 2019 to effectively establish the relationship
between BFR’s climate and parasitism. | en_US |
