Infection with Schistosoma mansoni was studied in 5 troops
of olive baboons (Papio cynocephalus anubis) in Gombe Stream
National Park, Tanzania. Three troops were infected with S.
mansoni. An aggregated distribution of parasites was observed
among hosts. Troop membership was found to be the most significant factor
influencing parasite prevalence. Age and
reproductive status had no significant effect, but there was a
trend for males to acquire higher levels of infection. However,
age–prevalence curves showed a high infection in young baboons
declining in the older baboons. Behavioural components
of exposure – as measured in water-contact pattern – may be
related to parasite burden. A ‘peak shift’ between infection
in different age-classes in the different troops was observed: troops
with higher schistosome prevalences displayed an
earlier peak in prevalence of infection. The baboon troop with the most
contact
with people showed highest prevalence
of infection possibly due to longer exposure to the parasite than the
other troops and/or higher host density.
TUBERCULOSIS IN WILD OLIVE BABOONS, PAPIO CYNOCEPHALUS ANUBIS (LESSON), IN KENYA
