Evaluación del parasitismo intestinal en monos aulladores rojos (Alouatta seniculus) en rehabilitación en el CAVREcosantafé, Jericó, Colombia

Introduction: Some species of protozoa and helminthes parasitize the digestion system of some vertebrate hosts, jeopardizing the conservation of wild animals that are in captivity for their rehabilitation and subsequent reintroduction into their habitats. Objective: To evaluate intestinal parasitism in red howler monkeys (Aloutta seniculus) kept in captivity for their rehabilitation in the center for attention, assessment and rehabilitation of wild animals (CAVR for its acronym in Spanish) Ecosantafé, in Jericó, Antioquia. Materials and methods: A descriptive study was performed, collecting 21 samples of stool by the use of a convenience sampling during June, September and December, 2011. Each sample was analyzed with direct microscopy (direct smear and colors: modified Ziehl Neelsen and Gram chromotrope), Mini Parasep® concentration technique and stool cultures in agar and Harada Mori. Results. A parasitism (at least one parasite) of 95,2%, and a 71,4% of multiparasitism percentages were observed, with no statistically significant differences between individuals of both sexes or between young and adult individuals. The parasites detected belong to the Trichomonadidae family (95,2 %) the genera Giardia (52,4 %), Blastocystis (42,9 %), Strongyloides (21,1 %), Cryptosporidium (14,3 %) and the Entamoeba coli species (9,5 %). Conclusion: The findings of this study are important, given the negative consequences intestinal parasites can have for the health, the rehabilitation and the conservation of the Alouatta seniculus and other wild species. Besides, the parasites detected are considered as amphixenosis, which means that these findings are also important for public health.