Prevalence of Gastrointestinal Parasites among Captive Primates in Panama

The aim of the present study was determine, the prevalence of the gastrointestinal parasites of wild primates in captivity in the Republic of Panama during the year 2008. During the year 2008 in two Zoos, the summit Municipal Zoo and the Nispero Zoo, there were recollected 87 fecal samples belong to 29, no human clinically healthy individuals of the Ateles geoffroyi, Ateles fuciceps, Cebus capucinus, Saguinus geoffroyi and Aotus lemurinus species. The samples were processed by the qualitave analysis of concentration by sedimentation using the formol-acetate of ethylic protocol and the modified Zielh-Neelsen's dye. Four genres of major prevalence in primates were identified as: Criptosporidium sp., Endolimax nana, Estrongiloides sp. and Entamoeba sp. The parasite with major prevalence was Criptosporidium sp. in Ateles fuciceps. It is important to mention that two PGI have not been reported in Panama, being these: Oesophagostomun sp. and Enteromonas hominis. The asociation between the levels of gastrointestinal parasites in both studied zoos, was evalued using Fisher's exact test and the results indicated that there exists no significantive difference between them and the level of significance of p<0.05. This is Panama's first record of the species of gastrointestinal parasites that affects the animals in captivity therefore, this research will serve as a guide to establish the necessary preventive measures to favor the conversation of these species.