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1 December 2018 TRANSMISSION OF PTERYGODERMATITES NYCTICEBI IN A COLONY OF GOELDI'S MONKEYS (CALLIMICO GOELDII) AND EVALUATION OF TREATMENT AND CONTROL
Annina Balsiger, Karin Federer, Felix Grimm, Peter Deplazes
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Abstract

Over a 2-yr period, four Goeldi's monkeys (Callimico goeldii) died in a private zoo due to infections with the spirurid nematode Pterygodermatites nycticebi. Therapeutic measures with different anthelmintics were not successful. Due to the severe consequences caused by these infections, different actions were initiated, including sanitation measures and controlling of potential intermediate hosts (coprophagous arthropods). To identify possible intermediate hosts, arthropod species detected in the enclosure—parasite-free German cockroaches (Blattella germanica), European earwigs (Forficula auricularia), and rough woodlice (Porcellio scaber)—were experimentally fed with feces of monkeys with patent P. nycticebi infections, resulting in established infections with third-stage larvae (L3) in roaches and earwigs. Furthermore, spiruroid L3 were detectable in 43% of the roaches and 30% of earwigs caught at the zoo. Polymerase chain reaction and sequence analysis of eggs, larval, and adult stages resulted in identical results, confirming the establishment of the parasite's life cycle in the zoo. This is the first documentation of the vector capacity of the European earwigs for P. nycticebi. As a measure of sanitation, a large part of the enclosure was emptied and cleaned. The Goeldi's monkeys were quarantined and treated with levamisole (7.5 mg/kg sc twice in intervals of 2 wk). Repeated coprologic examinations by zinc chloride flotation were undertaken. After the levamisole therapy, eggs were not found in the feces for 3 mo. However, shortly after resettling the monkeys into the sanitized enclosure, reshedding of small amounts of spirurid eggs was observed, whereupon deworming with levamisole was prescribed several times per year. The sanitation measures and the elimination of the intermediate hosts in a natural enclosure are presented as an example of the long-term controlling of the parasites.

Copyright 2018 by American Association of Zoo Veterinarians
Annina Balsiger, Karin Federer, Felix Grimm, and Peter Deplazes "TRANSMISSION OF PTERYGODERMATITES NYCTICEBI IN A COLONY OF GOELDI'S MONKEYS (CALLIMICO GOELDII) AND EVALUATION OF TREATMENT AND CONTROL," Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 49(4), 893-901, (1 December 2018). https://doi.org/10.1638/2017-0177.1
Accepted: 29 May 2018; Published: 1 December 2018
KEYWORDS
Anthelmintics
Forficula auricularia
Goeldi's monkey (Callmico goeldii)
nematode
spiruridosis
transmission
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