Philippine E-Journals

Detection of Trichuris trichiura in a Philippine Macaque (Macaca fascicularis) from Davao Region: A Case Report

Maria Catherine B. Otero | Datu Jihad Zacharia III | Jarwen Jose Kubler | James Joseph Rawlins | John Paul M. Banzon | Marian Dara T. Tagoon | Elsa May D. Baron

Discipline: Biology, Research

 

Abstract:

We report the laboratory detection of Trichuris trichiura in a fecal sample from the Philippine macaque (Macaca fascicularis) from a beach forest in Davao del Norte, Philippines. The simple test tube flotation method, using a mixture of 100mL of water, 50g of sucrose, and 40g of NaCl as flotation fluid, was performed to detectnematode, cestode eggs and coccidia oocysts in the feces. Only the Trichuris trichiura egg, measuring 52μm x 22μm and showing the prominent mucoid polar plugs, was detected on one fecal sample from an adult female Philippine macaque.Although the data collected in this study is insufficient to say that people who work with monkeys are at a high risk of acquiring communicable diseases, it can be inferred that the presence of T. trichiura means that farm workers are at risk for potential zoonotic nematode infection. Moreover, the presence of artifacts and remnants indicate the possible presence of other endoparasites that were not documented in this study. The presence of this known parasite in humans indicates the possibility of disease transmission between humans and animals.