Betty June Myers

Parasites of baboons (Papio doguera (Pucheran, 1856)) captured in kenya and tanzania, east Africa

With the recent impetus and a growing concern for the subhuman primates a number of investigations have been initiated to explore more carefully the general biology of this group of vertebrates. Considerable attention has been directed toward extensive studies in the basic biology and biomedical aspects of the baboon. As already indicated by an extensive bibliography on baboons (SHILLING 1964) this animal has been one of the more commonly recognized and widely used primates. The potential use of Papio as a model for medical research has been the topic of the First International Symposium on the Baboon (VAOTBORO 1965). Although there are numerous references (MYERS and KUNTZ 1965) to parasites and pathological manifestations due to infection, reports on the parasites of baboons taken from their natural habitat are few and far between. Since the majority of parasitological reports have been based upon hosts held in captivity for varying periods it has not been feasible to judge the normal or natural parasitism characteristic of this primate. In a broad program outlined by the Department of Microbiology, SFRE, investigations have been initiated to evaluate the parasite and general microfaunal populations in wild as well as in captive animals. The present report is based on parasites and other intestinal microfauna obtained from or detected in a series of 13 baboons captured in Kenya and Tanzania in 1964. Additional information relative to sites of collection, general ecological aspects of the overall study and preliminary findings in the field of microbiology have been described by KALTEa et al. (1966).

A checklist of parasites and commensals reported for the Taiwan macaque (Macaca cyclopis Swinhoe, 1862)

The Taiwan macaque, the only nonhuman primate indigenous to Taiwan, is a member of a widely distributed and very successful group of cercopithecids which constitute the genus Macaca. This genus geographically occupies extensive ranges in Southeast Asia (including Malaysia and a number of islands of the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea), parts of India, Ceylon, the Orient (China, Taiwan and Japan) and the Philippine Islands. Although more than a century has passed since SWINHOE (1862) assigned the name Macaca cyclopis to this monkey, it is per1-taps among the least known of the macaques. Its taxonomic position has been a point of question in the minds of vertebrate zoologists although SWINHOE, at the time he obtained living specimens in 1862, recognized distinct differences between this mammal and the well known rhesus (M. mulatta) of Mainland Asia. A recent evaluation of skins and skeletal materials taken in the course of survey type studies on the parasites of vertebrates of Taiwan indicates that this macaque is sufficiently different from other members of the genus to warrant specific designation (JOHNSON, unpublished). In a rather general, original description of M. cyclopis, SWINHOE (1862) referred to the rock inhabiting tendencies of this monkey and stated that it fed upon insects, erustacea and molluscs, as well as on berries and vegetation. Mention was also made of its preference for living at the lower altitudes and especially on grassy hills near

Parasites of the Kenya baboon: Arthropods, blood protozoa and helminths (Kenya, 1966)

Although there is an impressive list of parasites for baboons, a recent compilation (MYERS & KUNTZ, 1965) has stressed the great need for parasitological studies in the field where the baboons occur. A large proportion of records for baboons, as well as for other primates, is based upon an examination of hosts in which the parasite fauna has been greatly modified by varying periods in captivity. The desirability of survey type studies to provide more accurate host-parasite data on natural infections is obvious. The present report is one part of multidiscipline investigations conducted by the Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases of the Southwest Foundation for Research and Education (SFRE) in Kenya early in 1966. It is a continuation and expansion of parasitological studies on the Kenya baboon taken in different localities in 1964 (KALraR et al., 1965; KVNTZ & MYERS, 1966). Hosts were examined in three areas representing different ecological habitats.

Primate Cysticercosis:Taenia hydatigena in Kenya Vervets (Cercopithecus aethiops Linnaeus, 1758) and Taiwan Macaques (Macaca cyclopis Swinhoe, 1864)

Unless there is an opportunity to correlate the larval stages of taeniids with adults obtained from the feeding of appropriate definitive hosts, an attempt to identify encysted forms from intermediate hosts frequently meets with frustration. Although there is much conflicting information on the larval forms (types as well as their taxonomy) of the taeniids, none surpasses that of the cestode Taenia hydatigena which seems to be a cosmopolitan parasite that occurs in different forms in a number of intermediate hosts. Confusion among related species of taeniid cestodes and the importance of larval types has been emphasized recently in a critical study by EscrI and SELF (1965). The parasites herein described and pictured were obtained from primates in two widely separated localities. Three of approximately 240 Kenya vervets (Cercopithecus aethiops LINNAEUS, 1758) examined routinely for studies in microbiology in San Antonio were infected. Two hosts possessed two cysts each and a third had only one well developed cysticercus. Two cysticerci were found in each of two of 57 Taiwan macaques (Macaca cydopis SWlNHOE, 1864) examined in a broad range survey of the parasites of vertebrates of Taiwan, Republic of China. Although there is considerable confusion regarding the features of these larval stages, the number of hooks (28 to 32), their arrangement on the rostellum the size

Schistosoma haematobium: Experimental infection in capuchin monkey, Cebus apella

Abstract South American capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella) have been included in a series of nonhuman primates under evaluation for their potential use as models in a study of the basic biology of Schistosoma haematobium. Emphasis has been given to involvement of the urogenital system, a prominent feature of infection in man. Preliminary observations on Cebus apella with moderate numbers of S. haematobium from Iran showed that there may be serious involvement of the urogenital system with development of pronounced hydronephrosis accompanied by pathobiological alteration of the urinary bladder, ureters, and kidneys. There were heavy deposits of parasite eggs in the major viscera.

Parasitological aspects of Schistosoma haematobium (Iran) infection in the American opossum (Didelphis marsupialis L.).

Abstract Parasitological studies on 25 American opossums (Didelphis marsupialis) exposed to 1000 cercariae each of S. haematobium (Iran) have indicated a host-parasite situation and general parasitological conditions which show this marsupial to be a satisfactory host for experimental schistosomiasis. The return of schistosomes in relation to cercarial exposure was not excessively high, but there were egg deposits in the major visceral organs. Varied macroscopic pathology due to egg deposits in different organs was demonstrated as well as a potential for urinary bladder involvement, including tumor formation. Even though the precise nature of tumor pathology is not yet known, availability of the host, a good host-parasite compatability, and a low death rate in infected hosts favor this mammal as a model for experimental schistosomiasis haematobia.

On a Phylogenetic Classification of the Family Trichostrongylidae Leiper of Marsupials, Insectivores and Edentates

Leiper in 1908, created the sub-family Trichostrongylinae in his new family Metastrongylidae, for those small intestinal bursate nematodes without a buccal capsule. It included the genera Trichostrongylus, Haemonchus, Nematodirus, Cooperia and Ostertagia . In 1912, he raised the status of this sub-family to family rank as Trichostrongylidae Leiper, 1912. All the original genera in this family have a double ovarian system in the female; Heligmosomum described by Railliet and Henry in 1909, has a single ovary and in 1914, Travassos created a new sub-family Heligmosominae for this and related species.