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Genetic characterization of Strongyloides spp. from captive, semi-captive and wild Bornean orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus) in Central and East Kalimantan, Borneo, Indonesia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 August 2011

E. M. LABES
Affiliation:
University of Zurich, Institute of Parasitology, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
N. WIJAYANTI
Affiliation:
University Gadjah Mada, Centre for Biotechnology, 55281 Jogjakarta, Indonesia
P. DEPLAZES
Affiliation:
University of Zurich, Institute of Parasitology, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
A. MATHIS*
Affiliation:
University of Zurich, Institute of Parasitology, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
*
*Corresponding author: University of Zurich, Institute of Parasitology, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland. Tel: +41 (0)44 635 85 01. Fax: +41 (0)44 635 89 07. E-mail: alexander.mathis@uzh.ch

Summary

Orangutans (Pongo spp.), Asia's only great apes, are threatened in their survival due to habitat loss, hunting and infections. Nematodes of the genus Strongyloides may represent a severe cause of death in wild and captive individuals. In order to better understand which Strongyloides species/subspecies infect orangutans under different conditions, larvae were isolated from fecal material collected in Indonesia from 9 captive, 2 semi-captive and 9 wild individuals, 18 captive groups of Bornean orangutans and from 1 human working with wild orangutans. Genotyping was done at the genomic rDNA locus (part of the 18S rRNA gene and internal transcribed spacer 1, ITS1) by sequencing amplicons. Thirty isolates, including the one from the human, could be identified as S. fuelleborni fuelleborni with 18S rRNA gene identities of 98·5–100%, with a corresponding published sequence. The ITS1 sequences could be determined for 17 of these isolates revealing a huge variability and 2 main clusters without obvious pattern with regard to attributes of the hosts. The ITS1 amplicons of 2 isolates were cloned and sequenced, revealing considerable variability indicative of mixed infections. One isolate from a captive individual was identified as S. stercoralis (18S rRNA) and showed 99% identity (ITS1) with S. stercoralis sequences from geographically distinct locations and host species. The findings are significant with regard to the zoonotic nature of these parasites and might contribute to the conservation of remaining orangutan populations.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

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