Gastrointestinal and Malarial Parasite Prevalence, Diversity and Distribution in Primate Communities in the Lowland Rainforest Fragments of the UBV, Assam, India

15 Dec 2024 Hoollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary, Jorhat, Assam, India, Indian Sub-continent Biodiversity | Forests | Primates

Karshita Bharati

The forests of the Upper Brahmaputra Valley (UBV) in Assam state of northeastern India harbour rich nonhuman primate diversity, being home to seven primate species (Sharma et al. 2022). These rainforests have, however, been degrading steadily and are now highly fragmented, threatening the future survival of its primate populations. Habitat loss and fragmentation not only impact the survival of these populations (Cowlishaw & Dunbar 2000) but could potentially lead to a cascade of changes, impacting the susceptibility of these populations and individuals to various survival pressures, including parasite loads and infection risks (Gillespie & Chapman 2008). Increasing overlaps in habitats and resources between human and nonhuman primates is a potential source of emerging zoonotic diseases in the Anthropocene. This highlights the urgent need for studies to understand the emergence of epidemics and combat disease spread in anthropogenic landscapes, typically characterised by a matrix of natural and human-dominated habitats.

Construction in eco-sensitive zone of Dehing Patkai National Park. ©Karshita Bharati.

Construction in eco-sensitive zone of Dehing Patkai National Park. ©Karshita Bharati.

There has been virtually no work on parasites and potential infectious disease transmission in wild nonhuman primate species in the fragmented forest patches of northeastern India. This study aims to build a comprehensive understanding of parasite prevalence and diversity amongst the threatened alloprimate populations of the UBV, a critical step in formulating appropriate conservation and management strategies for the primates of the region. The principal aims of this project include:

• Mapping of five diurnal nonhuman primate species populations in four lowland rainforest fragments of the Upper Brahmaputra Valley (UBV)

• Identification and distribution of gastrointestinal micro- and macroparasites and malarial parasites in groups of five alloprimate species, and in incidental human groups, if any, in the four select fragments

• Evaluation of the influence of species identity, primate group size, host age and sex, and fragment characteristics on the prevalence and diversity of the study parasites in select primate communities across the different chosen fragments

Through this multispecies study and subsequent phase, we aim to establish baseline information on the parasites affecting the host primate populations, how they are transmitted, and the factors influencing their dynamics. This knowledge will help identify risks, including potential diseases threatening these populations, and unravel appropriate measures to conserve the isolated primate populations in these fragments. We also hope to provide comprehensive information on the impact of forest fragmentation and anthropogenic disturbances on alloprimate gastrointestinal and malarial parasite diversity and dynamics across individuals, groups, populations and species in the UBV of Assam state in northeastern India.

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