A Survey of Intestinal Parasites in Non-Human Primates of Selected Captivities in Malaysia

• Main Author: Teo, Sieu Zhien
• Format: Final Year Project Report
• Language: English; English
• Published: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, (UNIMAS) 2015
• Subjects: QL Zoology
• Online Access: http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/34268/1/A%20Survey%20of%20Intestinal%20Parasites%20in%20Non-Human%20Primates%20of%20Selected%20Captivities%20in%20Malaysia%20%2824%20pgs%29.pdf; http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/34268/4/Teo%20Sieu%20Zhien%20ft.pdf; http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/34268/
• Institution: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak

Intestinal parasites are parasites that populate the gastro-intestinal tract in humans or other vertebrates. There are few detailed studies conducted on the intestinal parasites in non-human primates at captivities in Malaysia. Therefore, this study was done to determine the composition of intestinal parasites species and compare the species diversity of intestinal parasites haboured in non-human primates at the selected captivities in Malaysia. Faecal samples from non-human primates at Zoo Melaka, Matang Wildlife Centre, and Zoo Negara were collected and processed using faecal floatation method and faecal sedimentation method. Nematodes, trematodes, protozoal and cestodes were successfully recovered from these faecal samples. Among these, nematode infections were the most abundant and commonly observed. There is a difference in the intestinal parasites' species diversity among these three captivities based on diversity t-test of Shannon index. Zoo Negara had the greatest intestinal parasites' species diversity (H= 1.794); furthermore, Pongo pygmaeus at Matang Wildlife Centre had the most diverse intestinal parasite species. The intestinal parasites' diversity from three different captivities is significantly different (p-value<0.05; diversity t-test of Shannon index). The finding in this study is significant for zoos' management and biological conservation of animals at captivities.