Abstract text

Introduction

Prosthenorchis elegans is a neglected intestinal acanthocephalan parasite, which infects primates by consuming arthropod intermediate hosts. Adult worms can perforate the intestinal wall of various primate definitive hosts causing lethal secondary peritonitis. So far, no medical treatment for prosthenorchiosis is available.

Objectives

The main objectives were to evaluate occurrence, pathology and clinical impact of P. elegans infections in various neotropical primate species in endemic areas under field conditions.

Materials & methods

P. elegans infections in primates originating from a conservation centre in the Amazon Basin in Ucayali, Peru (8° 27" 0.59""; W 75° 15" 11.518"") were analysed in 2014-2022 by coproscopy of faecal samples (direct smear, sedimentation, SAF and flotation technique). Moreover, succumbed primates (n = 40) were necropsied and molecular analysis of adult P. elegans specimen was performed.

Results

In total, 42.5 % (17/40) necropsied primates of six different species (Lagothrix lagothricha, Pithecia aequatorialis, Leontocebus leucogenys, Aotus nancymaae, Sapajus macrocephalus, Ateles chamek) were found to be infected with P. elegans. Additionally, prosthenorchiosis was detected by coprology in another primate species, the red howler monkey (Alouatta seniculus). To our knowledge, this study includes the first host records of P. elegans in saki monkeys (Pithecia sp.), black-faced black spider monkeys (A. chamek) and red howler monkeys (A. seniculus).

Conclusion

Due to the ubiquitous and abundant occurrence of invertebrate intermediate hosts in the tropical environment, a considerable expansion of P. elegans infections was stated, once it was introduced into the current conservational area. Overall, elimination of this parasitosis seems impossible by currently available means. Therefore, prosthenorchiosis still represents a significant threat and challenge in neotropical primate conservation programs and scientific attention to this topic is desirable. Challenges include the development of safe, specific and efficient anthelmintic drugs against P. elegans.