First coprological survey of helminths in a wild population of black capuchin monkeys (Sapajus nigritus) in northeastern Argentina

Abstract

Parasites play an important role in primate ecology. Although gastrointestinal parasites have been surveyed in several primate taxa, there is still a substantial paucity of data for some species. Here we report the first coprological survey of helminths in a primate species, the wild black capuchin monkey (Sapajus nigritus), which is endemic to the Atlantic Forest. During three winters and one summer, we collected 665 faecal samples from 44 identified individuals of two capuchin groups in Iguazú National Park, NE Argentina, for parasitological analysis. Overall, we identified eight helminths: Filariopsis sp., Strongyloides sp., Trichuris sp., Ascaris sp., a Subuluridae, a Physalopteridae, a Hymenolepididae cestode, and an undetermined Trematode. The Hymenolepididae (25-42%), Filariopsis sp. (15-42%), and Strongyloides sp. (11-27%) were the most prevalent parasites regardless of the survey year, group and season. On average, infected capuchins harboured 1.12-1.26 parasite taxa. The parasite community observed in the black capuchin monkeys resembled those found in other Cebidae.