Prevalence and diversity of Helminth eggs in faeces of habituated mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei) from Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Abstract

Continuous conservation and research efforts are responsible for the recovery of the endangered mountain gorilla populations. Recently, clinical gastrointestinal illnesses linked to helminth infections have been recorded in both gorilla populations, necessitating that more research in this field is vital. The current study aimed at determining the current statues of helminths of habituated mountain gorillas in different home ranges in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. A cross-sectional study conducted in September 2022, collected 82 mountain gorilla faecal which underwent floatation and formal ether concentration techniques to examine the presence of helminth eggs. Out of the 82 samples collected, 61.1% were were posive for helminths. The percentage positive samples by location were 24% for Buhoma and Ruhija and 7 % for Nkuringo. Strongylids, tapeworms, Strongyloides and Trichuris species were the main helminth eggs detected. The most common helminth in the gorilla faecal samples were strongylids (59.4%) followed by Tapeworms (37.5%), Strongyloides (34.4%), and Trichuris (9.4%).