INVESTIGATING ENTAMOEBA SPECIES INFECTING WILD AND SEMI-WILD ORANGUTANS
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| Year of publication | 2014 |
| Type | Appeared in Conference without Proceedings |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
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| Description | Presenter’s Email: peterdstuart@hotmail.com XXX (no-need to enter paper number) The aim of this study is to identify Entamoeba species infecting wild and semi-wild orangutans and any risk factors associated with infection. Due to habitat loss, the Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii) is currently listed as critically endangered and the Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) is listed as endangered. For the continued survival of orangutans, intensive management of the remaining populations is required. Key to the success of these management practices is preventing the introduction of infectious diseases to the remaining populations. Infection with Entamoeba is of concern as orangutans have been observed to be infected with Entamoeba species and infection has been linked to morbidity and mortality in primates. However, it remains to be determined if the species infecting orangutans is the pathogenic species Entamoeba histolytica. This study aims to identify the species of Entamoeba infecting orangutans by carrying out PCR assays on approximately 400 faecal samples collected by the Orangutan Health Project. These samples have been collected from 87 individual wild and semi-wild orangutans from 2004 to 2011 in two different sites in Sumatra (Bukit Lawang and Ketambe) and two sites in Kalimantan (Sebangau and Tuanan). Factors including age, sex, location and time of year will be investigated to identify any risk factors associated with infection. Results will be discussed. Financially supported by the UMI- Saving of the Pongidae Foundation and GA P505/11/1163. |
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