Epidemiology of malaria in Gabon: A systematic review and meta-analysis from 1980 to 2023.

The objective of this were conducted to elucidate spatiotemporal variations in malaria epidemiology in Gabon since 1980. For that, five databases, were used to collect and identify all studies published between 1980 and 2023 on malaria prevalence, antimalarial drug resistance, markers of antimalarial drug resistance and insecticide resistance marker. The findings suggest that Gabon continues to face malaria as an urgent public health problem, with persistently high prevalence rates. Markers of resistance to CQ persist despite its withdrawal, and markers of resistance to SP have emerged with a high frequency, reaching 100 %, while ACTs remain effective. Also, recent studies have identified markers of resistance to the insecticides Kdr-w and Kdr-e at frequencies ranging from 25 % to 100 %. Ace1R mutation was reported with a frequency of 0.4 %. In conclusion, the efficacy of ACTs remains above the threshold recommended by the WHO. Organo-phosphates and carbamates could provide an alternative for vector control.

Investigation of caliciviruses and astroviruses in Gabonese rodents: A possible influence of national and international trade on the spread of enteric viruses.

Caliciviruses (Caliciviridae) and astroviruses (Astroviridae) are among the leading cause of non-bacterial foodborne disease and gastroenteritis in human. These non-enveloped RNA viruses infect a wide range of vertebrate species including rodents. Rodents are among the most important hosts of infectious diseases globally and are responsible for over 80 zoonotic pathogens that affect humans. Therefore, screening pathogens in rodents will be is necessary to prevent cross-species transmission to prevent zoonotic outbreaks. In the present study, we screened caliciviruses and astroviruses in order to describe their diversity and whether they harbor strains that can infect humans. RNA was then extracted from intestine samples of 245 rodents and retrotranscribed in cDNA to screen caliciviruses and astroviruses by PCRs. All the samples tested negative for caliciviruses and while astroviruses were detected in 18 (7.3%) samples of Rattus rattus species. Phylogenetic analyses based on the RdRp gene showed that all the sequences belonged to Mamastrovirus genus in which they were genetically related to R. rattus related AstVs previously detected in Gabon or in Rattus spp. AstV from Kenya and Asia. These findings suggested that transportation such as land and railway, as well national and international trade, are likely to facilitate spread of AstVs by the dissemination of rodents.

Evidence for circulation of Rift Valley fever virus in wildlife and domestic animals in a forest environment in Gabon, Central Africa.

Rift Valley fever (RVF) is a mosquito-borne viral zoonosis caused by the Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) that can infect domestic and wild animals. Although the RVFV transmission cycle has been well documented across Africa in savanna ecosystems, little is known about its transmission in tropical rainforest settings, particularly in Central Africa. We therefore conducted a survey in northeastern Gabon to assess RVFV circulation among wild and domestic animals. Among 163 wildlife samples tested using RVFV-specific RT-qPCR, four ruminants belonging to subfamily Cephalophinae were detected positive. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that the four RVFV sequences clustered together with a virus isolated in Namibia within the well-structured Egyptian clade. A cross-sectional survey conducted on sheep, goats and dogs living in villages within the same area determined the IgG RVFV-specific antibody prevalence using cELISA. Out of the 306 small ruminants tested (214 goats, 92 sheep), an overall antibody prevalence of 15.4% (95% CI [11.5-19.9]) was observed with a higher rate in goats than in sheep (20.1% versus 3.3%). RVFV-specific antibodies were detected in a single dog out of the 26 tested. Neither age, sex of domestic animals nor season was found to be significant risk factors of RVFV occurrence. Our findings highlight sylvatic circulation of RVFV for the first time in Gabon. These results stress the need to develop adequate surveillance plan measures to better control the public health threat of RVFV.

Risk Factors Associated with Opportunistic Infections among People Living with HIV/AIDS and Receiving an Antiretroviral Therapy in Gabon, Central Africa.

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is still one of the main causes of death in sub-Saharan Africa. Antiretroviral therapies (ARTs) have significantly improved the health conditions of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). Consequently, a significant drop in morbidity and mortality, along with a reduced incidence of opportunistic infections (OIs), has been observed. However, certain atypical and biological profiles emerge in ART patients post-examination. The objective of this study was to identify the risk factors that contributed to the onset of OIs in HIV patients undergoing ART in Gabon. Epidemiological and biological data were obtained from medical records (2017 to 2019) found at the outpatient treatment centre (CTA) of Franceville in Gabon. Samples for blood count, CD4, and viral load analysis at CIRMF were collected from PLWHA suffering from other pathogen-induced conditions. A survey was carried out and data were analysed using Rstudio 4.0.2 and Excel 2007 software. Biological and socio-demographic characteristics were examined concerning OIs through both a univariate analysis via Fisher's exact tests or chi2 (χ2), and a multivariate analysis via logistic regression. Out of the 300 participants initially selected, 223 were included in the study, including 154 (69.05%) women and 69 (30.95%) men. The mean age was 40 (38.6; 41.85), with individuals ranging from 2 to 77 years old. The study cohort was classified into five age groups (2 to 12, 20 to 29, 30 to 39, 40 to 49, and 50 to 77 years old), among which the groups aged 30 to 39 and 40 to 49 emerged as the largest, comprising 68 (30.5%) and 75 (33.6%) participants, respectively. It was noted that 57.9% of PLWHA had developed OIs and three subgroups were distinguished, with parasitic, viral, and bacterial infections present in 18%, 39.7%, and 55.4% of cases, respectively. There was a correlation between being male and having a low CD4 T-cell count and the onset of OIs. The study revealed a high overall prevalence of OIs, and extending the study to other regions of Gabon would yield a better understanding of the risk factors associated with the onset of these infections.

Absence of Coronavirus RNA in Faecal Samples from Wild Primates in Gabon, Central Africa.

Coronaviruses (CoVs, Coronaviridae) are a diverse group of viruses that infect mammals, birds, and fish. Seven CoVs infect humans, among which Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome CoVs-1 and -2 and Middle East respiratory syndrome CoVs have shown how they can impact global health and the economy. Their spillover from bats-the natural reservoir-to humans has required intermediary hosts. Prevention requires that active surveillance be conducted on animals. Today, there is no data concerning the genetic diversity of CoVs naturally circulating in wild primates. This study aimed to screen wild great apes and mandrills in Gabon for CoVs. A total of 229 faecal samples of great apes and mandrills collected from 2009 to 2012 in forests and national parks were used for the detection of CoVs by nested PCR using primers targeting a conserved region of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. While all samples were negative, this lack of detection could be related to sample size, the transient nature of the infection, or because faecal samples are not suitable for detecting CoVs in primates. A longitudinal study should be performed and other non-invasive methods used to collect respiratory samples to better evaluate the circulation of CoVs in these primates.

Molecular epidemiology of antimicrobial resistance in central africa: A systematic review.

Background: In Central Africa, it is difficult to tackle antibiotic resistance, because of a lack of data and information on bacterial resistance, due to the low number of studies carried out in the field. To fill this gap, we carried out a systematic review of the various studies, and devised a molecular epidemiology of antimicrobial resistance from humans, animals and the environmental samples. Method: A systematic search of all publications from 2005 to 2020 on bacterial resistance in Central Africa (Gabon, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, São Tomé and Príncipe, Angola) was performed on Pubmed, Google scholar and African Journals Online (AJOL). All circulating resistance genes, prevalence and genetic carriers of these resistances were collected. The study area was limited to the nine countries of Central Africa. Results: A total of 517 studies were identified through a literature search, and 60 studies carried out in eight countries were included. Among all articles included, 43 articles were from humans. Our study revealed not only the circulation of beta-lactamase and carbapenemase genes, but also several other types of resistance genes. To finish, we noticed that some studies reported mobile genetic elements such as integrons, transposons, and plasmids. Conclusion: The scarcity of data poses difficulties in the implementation of effective strategies against antibiotic resistance, which requires a health policy in a 'One Health' approach.

Status of Onchocerciasis Elimination in Gabon and Challenges: A Systematic Review.

Control and treatment programs (CDTI) have been set up nationally in all endemic countries to overcome the impact of onchocerciasis on the affected populations. However, Gabon must still succeed in setting up real onchocerciasis control programs. Here, various database articles have been used to provide the scientific community with a summary document showing the mapping of this disease in Gabon. The articles dealing with onchocerciasis, animal reservoirs, surveillance, and elimination were analyzed. Results showed that little research has been performed. Most studies are concentrated in one region (The area of Lastourville). In addition, we observed that the distribution of the disease varies significantly across the country. Indeed, specific environments present a hyper-endemicity of the disease, while others are meso and hypo-endemic. So, we found some departments with a prevalence ranging from 0% to over 20%; within them, villages had infection levels comprising 10% to 60%, indicating potential hotspots. Vectors activities were studied in some areas. This paper showed the challenges encountered in the country to eliminate this disease. One solution is a deeper understanding of the disease's bioecology to establish effective health policies to eliminate onchocerciasis in Gabon effectively.

Molecular Identification of Enteric Viruses in Domestic Animals in Northeastern Gabon, Central Africa.

Astroviruses (AstVs), enteroviruses (EVs), and caliciviruses (CaVs) infect several vertebrate taxa. Transmitted through the fecal-oral route, these enteric viruses are highly resistant and can survive in the environment, thereby increasing their zoonotic potential. Here, we screened for AstVs, EVs, and CaVs to investigate the role of domestic animals in the emergence of zoonoses, because they are situated at the human/wildlife interface, particularly in rural forested areas in Central Africa. Rectal swabs were obtained from 123 goats, 41 sheep, and 76 dogs in 10 villages located in northeastern Gabon. Extracted RNA reverse-transcribed into cDNA was used to detect AstVs, EVs, and CaVs by amplification of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), or capsid protein (VP1) gene using PCR. A total of 23 samples tested positive, including 17 goats for AstVs, 2 goats, 2 sheep, 1 dog for EVs, and 1 dog for CaVs. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that AstV RdRp sequences clustered with sheep-, goat-, or bovine-related AstVs. In addition, one goat and two sheep VP1 sequences clustered with caprine/ovine-related Evs within the Enterovirus G species, and the CaV was a canine vesivirus. However, human-pathogenic Evs, EV-B80 and EV-C99, were detected in goats and dogs, raising questions on the maintenance of viruses able to infect humans.

Decrease on malaria clinical cases from 2017 to 2019 in Franceville, Southeast Gabon, Central Africa.

Background: In Gabon, malaria remains a major public health problem. All malaria cases with axillary temperature ≥ 37.5°C with a parasites density ≥ 1200/µL are serious cases and must be treated as a medical emergency. Thus, early diagnosis is essential for successful treatment. Because of the impact of malaria on the population, the surveillance of malaria infections in hospitals is urgently needed. The aim of this study was to to assess of clinical cases of malaria in a private health structure in Franceville between 2017 and 2019. Methods: For that, we conducted a retrospective study using data on malaria cases recorded in a private medical analysis laboratory in Franceville, southeast Gabon. Malaria was diagnosed in this laboratory using a Rapid Diagnostic Test and confirmed by microscopic analysis. Results: Analysis of 2518 patient forms revealed an increase in malaria prevalence in Franceville between 2017-2019. The global clinical cases was 26.1% (658/2015). Children under 5 years (44.0%) and patients aged 5-14 years (40.1%) were more affected than patients aged ≥15 years (18.8%, P=0.0001). Malaria infection was also significantly dependent on season and gender. We observed at least three Plasmodium species and the predominant Plasmodium species was P. falciparum 80.0%, followed by P. ovale (19.5%) and P. malariae (17.8%). Conclusion: Our study showed that malaria remains a public health priority for the population of Franceville and that the prevalence of clinical cases of malaria at the laboratory decrease between 2017 and 2019. Our results highlight the need for strategies to control malaria in Franceville, adapted to epidemiological contexts and environmental constraint.

Molecular Characterization of Canine Parvovirus Variants CPV-2a and CPV-2c, Associated with Vaccinated Dogs at Libreville, Gabon.

The first detection of canine parvovirus type-2 (CPV-2) was in the early 1970s, when it was known to cause severe gastroenteritis in dogs. However, it has evolved over the years into CPV-2a within 2 years, into CPV-2b after 14 years, into CPV-2c after 16 years and more recently CPV-2a-, 2b- and 2c-like variants reported in 2019, with a global distribution. Reports on the molecular epidemiology of this virus are missing in most African countries. The report of clinical cases among vaccinated dogs in Libreville in Gabon triggered the execution of this study. The objective of this study was to characterize circulating variants from dogs showing clinical signs suggestive of CPV that were examined by a veterinarian. A total of eight (8) fecal swab samples were collected, and all had positive PCR results. Sequencing, Blast analysis and assembly of two whole genomes and eight partial VP2 sequences were performed, and the sequences submitted to GenBank. Genetic characterization revealed the presence of CPV-2a and CPV-2c variants with predominance of the former. Phylogenetically, the Gabonese CPVs formed distinct groups similar to Zambian CPV-2c and Australian CPV-2a sequences. The antigenic variants CPV-2a and CPV-2c have not yet been reported in Central Africa. However, these CPV-2 variants circulate in young, vaccinated dogs in Gabon. These results suggest additional epidemiological and genomic studies are required in order to evaluate the occurrence of different CPV variants in Gabon and effectiveness of the commercial vaccines used against protoparvovirus in the country.

Gastrointestinal Polyparasitism in Bushmeat in Zadie Department in Northeast Gabon.

Wild animals harbor pathogens that can be infectious agents for humans, including parasites. This study aimed to identify gastrointestinal parasites and assess their prevalence and the potential risk for humans associated with consuming these animals. The research was conducted from August to December 2019. Parasitological analyses were carried out on the feces and intestines of 113 wild animals, including antelopes (24), duikers (58), porcupines (18), small monkeys (Cercopithecus) (8), nandinia (2), pangolin (1), genet (1), and a crocodile (1), from the Zadié Department in the province of Ogooué-Ivindo in the northeast of Gabon. The results revealed 15 taxa of gastrointestinal parasites, including nine nematodes: Strongylids (61/113), Strongyloides spp. (21/113), Ascaris spp. (21/113), Trichuris spp. (39/113), Capillaria spp. (9/113), Protostrongylus spp. (5/113), Enterobius spp. (8/113), Toxocara spp. (7/113) and Mammomonogamus spp. (5/113); three species of protozoa, namely Balantidium spp. (12/113), Eimeria spp. (17/113), and Entamoeba spp. (9/113); two species of trematodes, namely Fasciola spp. (18/113) and Paramphistomum spp. (21/113); and cestode species, Taenia spp. (1/113). The prevalence of gastrointestinal parasitism in these animals was 85.84% (97/113). In addition, among these parasitic taxa, some are potential pathogens for humans, such as Ascaris spp., Balantidium spp., Entamoeba spp., and Taenia spp. The consumption of games, particularly offal, infested by these parasites, could threaten human health.

Staphylococcus aureus Host Spectrum Correlates with Methicillin Resistance in a Multi-Species Ecosystem.

Although antibiotic resistance is a major issue for both human and animal health, very few studies have investigated the role of the bacterial host spectrum in its dissemination within natural ecosystems. Here, we assessed the prevalence of methicillin resistance among Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates from humans, non-human primates (NHPs), micromammals and bats in a primatology center located in southeast Gabon, and evaluated the plausibility of four main predictions regarding the acquisition of antibiotic resistance in this ecosystem. MRSA strain prevalence was much higher in exposed species (i.e., humans and NHPs which receive antibiotic treatment) than in unexposed species (micromammals and bats), and in NHP species living in enclosures than those in captivity-supporting the assumption that antibiotic pressure is a risk factor in the acquisition of MRSA that is reinforced by the irregularity of drug treatment. In the two unexposed groups of species, resistance prevalence was high in the generalist strains that infect humans or NHPs, supporting the hypothesis that MRSA strains diffuse to wild species through interspecific transmission of a generalist strain. Strikingly, the generalist strains that were not found in humans showed a higher proportion of MRSA strains than specialist strains, suggesting that generalist strains present a greater potential for the acquisition of antibiotic resistance than specialist strains. The host spectrum is thus a major component of the issue of antibiotic resistance in ecosystems where humans apply strong antibiotic pressure.

Molecular and serological pattern of Toxoplasma gondii among rural population in four regions of Gabon

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligatory intracellular parasite that causes a zoonotic disease capable of infecting nearly all warm-blooded hosts, including humans. However, reports on the molecular prevalence of T. gondii in humans are rare in Gabon. The present study aimed to evaluate the serological and molecular prevalence of T. gondii among apparently healthy rural populations in four regions of Gabon. This study included six hundred blood samples from the Interdisciplinary Center for Medical Research (CIRMF) bank, including 300 women and 300 men living in 111 villages. Blood samples were screened using enzyme-linked fluorescent assay (ELFA), while buffy coat samples were analyzed using PCR analyses. Of the 600 samples screened, 548 (91.3%) showed IgG antibodies against T. gondii; 11 (2%) had both IgG and IgM. Among the 548 positive samples, 155 (28%) had higher IgG titers (>300 UI/ml), and 49 of them (31.6%) were detected with T. gondii DNA. The present findings on human toxoplasmosis in Gabon suggest that at an older age, reactivation of old infections seems more frequent than new infections, as indicated by the presence of T. gondii using PCR among elevated IgG subjects without IgM. Further studies should be performed to identify the genotypes of T. gondii that infect humans in Gabon.

Molecular Identification of Trypanosome Diversity in Domestic Animals Reveals the Presence of Trypanosoma brucei gambiense in Historical Foci of Human African Trypanosomiasis in Gabon.

Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) is an infectious disease caused by protozoan parasites belonging to the Trypanosoma genus. In sub-Saharan Africa, there is a significant threat as many people are at risk of infection. Despite this, HAT is classified as a neglected tropical disease. Over the last few years, several studies have reported the existence of a wide diversity of trypanosome species circulating in African animals. Thus, domestic and wild animals could be reservoirs of potentially dangerous trypanosomes for human populations. However, very little is known about the role of domestic animals in maintaining the transmission cycle of human trypanosomes in central Africa, especially in Gabon, where serious cases of infection are recorded each year, sometimes leading to hospitalization or death of patients. Komo-Mondah, located within Estuaries (Gabonese province), stays the most active HAT disease focus in Gabon, with a mean of 20 cases per year. In this study, we evaluated the diversity and prevalence of trypanosomes circulating in domestic animals using the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) technique. We found that 19.34% (53/274) of the domestic animals we studied were infected with trypanosomes. The infection rates varied among taxa, with 23.21% (13/56) of dogs, 16.10% (19/118) of goats, and 21.00% (21/100) of sheep infected. In addition, we have observed a global mixed rate of infections of 20.75% (11/53) among infected individuals. Molecular analyses revealed that at least six Trypanosome species circulate in domestic animals in Gabon (T. congolense, T. simiae, T. simiae Tsavo, T. theileri, T. vivax, T. brucei (including T. brucei brucei, and T. brucei gambiense)). In conclusion, our study showed that domestic animals constitute important potential reservoirs for trypanosome parasites, including T. brucei gambiense, which is responsible for HAT.

Human T-Lymphotropic virus type 1 and human immunodeficiency virus co-infection in rural Gabon.

INTRODUCTION: Human T-cell lymphotrophic virus type-1 (HTLV-1) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) co-infection occur in many populations. People living with HIV-1 and infected with HTLV-1 seem more likely to progress rapidly towards AIDS. Both HTLV-1 and HIV-1 are endemic in Gabon (Central Africa). We investigated HTLV-1 and HIV-1 co-infection in the Haut-Ogooué province, and assessed factors that may favor the rapid evolution and progression to AIDS in co-infected patients. METHODS: Plasma samples from HTLV-1 patients were tested using ELISA, and positive samples were then tested by western blot assay (WB). We used the polymerase chain reaction to detect HTLV-1 Tax/Rex genes using DNA extracted from the buffy coat of ELISA-positives samples. RESULTS: We recruited 299 individuals (mean age 46 years) including 90 (30%) men and 209 (70%) women, all of whom are under treatment at the Ambulatory Treatment Centre of the province. Of these, 45 were ELISA HTLV-1/2 seropositive. According to WB criteria, 21 of 45 were confirmed positive: 20 were HTLV-1 (44%), 1 was HTLV-1/2 (2%), 2 were indeterminate (4%) and 22 were seronegative (49%). PCR results showed that 23 individuals were positive for the Tax/Rex region. Considering both serological and molecular assays, the prevalence of HTLV-1 infection was estimated at 7.7%. Being a woman and increasing age were found to be independent risk factors for co-infection. Mean CD4+ cell counts were higher in HTLV-1/HIV-1 co-infected (578.1 (± 340.8) cells/mm3) than in HIV-1 mono-infected (481.0 (± 299.0) cells/mm3) Individuals. Similarly, the mean HIV-1 viral load was Log 3.0 (± 1.6) copies/ml in mono-infected and Log 2.3 (± 0.7) copies/ml in coinfected individuals. CONCLUSION: We described an overall high prevalence of HTLV-1/HIV-1 co-infection in Gabon. Our findings stress the need of strategies to prevent and manage these co-infections.

Systematic Review on Diversity and Distribution of Anopheles Species in Gabon: A Fresh Look at the Potential Malaria Vectors and Perspectives.

Gabon is located in the malaria hyper-endemic zone, where data concerning malaria vector distribution remains fragmentary, making it difficult to implement an effective vector control strategy. Thus, it becomes crucial and urgent to undertake entomological surveys that will allow a better mapping of the Anopheles species present in Gabon. In this review, we examined different articles dealing with Anopheles in Gabon from ProQuest, Web of Science, PubMed, and Google scholar databases. After applying the eligibility criteria to 7543 articles collected from four databases, 42 studies were included that covered a 91-year period of study. The review revealed a wide diversity of Anopheles species in Gabon with a heterogeneous distribution. Indeed, our review revealed the presence of 41 Anopheles species, of which the most abundant were members of the Gambiae and Nili complexes and those of the Funestus and Moucheti groups. However, our review also revealed that the major and minor vectors of malaria in Gabon are present in both sylvatic, rural, and urban environments. The observation of human malaria vectors in sylvatic environments raises the question of the role that the sylvatic environment may play in maintaining malaria transmission in rural and urban areas. Ultimately, it appears that knowledge of biodiversity and spatial distribution of Anopheles mosquitoes is fragmentary in Gabon, suggesting that additional studies are necessary to complete and update these entomological data, which are useful for the implementation of vector control strategies.

Using haematophagous fly blood meals to study the diversity of blood-borne pathogens infecting wild mammals.

Many emerging infectious diseases originate from wild animals, so there is a profound need for surveillance and monitoring of their pathogens. However, the practical difficulty of sample acquisition from wild animals tends to limit the feasibility and effectiveness of such surveys. Xenosurveillance, using blood-feeding invertebrates to obtain tissue samples from wild animals and then detect their pathogens, is a promising method to do so. Here, we describe the use of tsetse fly blood meals to determine (directly through molecular diagnostic and indirectly through serology), the diversity of circulating blood-borne pathogens (including bacteria, viruses and protozoa) in a natural mammalian community of Tanzania. Molecular analyses of captured tsetse flies (182 pools of flies totalizing 1728 flies) revealed that the blood meals obtained came from 18 different vertebrate species including 16 non-human mammals, representing approximately 25% of the large mammal species present in the study area. Molecular diagnostic demonstrated the presence of different protozoa parasites and bacteria of medical and/or veterinary interest. None of the six virus species searched for by molecular methods were detected but an ELISA test detected antibodies against African swine fever virus among warthogs, indicating that the virus had been circulating in the area. Sampling of blood-feeding insects represents an efficient and practical approach to tracking a diversity of pathogens from multiple mammalian species, directly through molecular diagnostic or indirectly through serology, which could readily expand and enhance our understanding of the ecology and evolution of infectious agents and their interactions with their hosts in wild animal communities.

Preliminary assessment of gastrointestinal parasites of the sun-tailed monkey (Allochrocebus solatus) in a semi-free-ranging colony.

BACKGROUND: The occurrence of gastrointestinal parasites in the sun-tailed monkey (Allochrocebus solatus) at the CIRMF primatology center is unknown. We, therefore, assessed the presence and richness (number of different parasite taxa) of gastrointestinal parasites in a semi-free-ranging colony of A. solatus. METHODS: A total of 46 fecal samples were screened using a modified McMaster technique for fecal egg counts. RESULTS: In the 46 samples collected, seven taxa of gastrointestinal parasites, including protozoa and nematodes were identified. The most prevalent parasite was strongyles parasites (98%), followed by Trichuris spp. (72%), Strongyloides spp. (67%) and Entamoeba coli (65%). Balantioides coli (33%), Endolimax nana (25%), and Spirurid eggs (26%) were only found in a minority of the animals. CONCLUSIONS: This study contributes new host records of gastrointestinal parasites in semi-free-ranging A. solatus and highlights the need to investigate the health of this species and implement proper precautions in the management of this colony.