Central Washington University ScholarWorks@CWU All Master's Theses Master's Theses Summer 2020 The Seasonality and Parasite Richness and Prevalence of the Weddelli’s Saddleback Tamarin (Leontocebus Weddelli) Krista Banda [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/etd Part of the Biological and Physical Anthropology Commons, and the Parasitology Commons Recommended Citation Banda, Krista, "The Seasonality and Parasite Richness and Prevalence of the Weddelli’s Saddleback Tamarin (Leontocebus Weddelli)" (2020). All Master's Theses. 1391. https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/etd/1391 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Master's Theses at ScholarWorks@CWU. It has been accepted for inclusion in All Master's Theses by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks@CWU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. THE SEASONALITY AND PARASITE RICHNESS AND PREVALENCE OF THE WEDDELLI’S SADDLEBACK TAMARIN (LEONTOCEBUS WEDDELLI) __________________________________ A Thesis Presented to The Graduate Faculty Central Washington University ___________________________________ In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Science Primate Behavior ___________________________________ by Krista Emaly Banda July 2020 CENTRAL WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY Graduate Studies We hereby approve the thesis of Krista Emaly Banda Candidate for the degree of Master of Science APPROVED FOR THE GRADUATE FACULTY ______________ _________________________________________ Dr. Gabrielle Stryker, Committee Chair ______________ _________________________________________ Dr. Lori K. Sheeran ______________ _________________________________________ Dr. Mrinalini Watsa ______________ _________________________________________ Dr. Kristina Ernest ______________ _________________________________________ Dr. Kevin Archer, Dean of Graduate Studies ii ABSTRACT THE SEASONALITY AND PARASITE RICHNESS AND PREVALENCE OF THE WEDDELLI’S SADDLEBACK TAMARIN (LEONTOCEBUS WEDDELLI) by Krista Emaly Banda July 2020 This study surveyed the intestinal helminths (parasitic worms) of Weddelli’s saddleback tamarins (Leontocebus weddelli), focusing on seasonality in parasite prevalence and richness. The collaborative study with Field Projects International took place at the Estación Biológica Rio Los Amigos (EBLA) in southeastern Peru. Fecal samples were collected by following semi- habituated groups of tamarins, yielding 16 samples in the dry season of 2015 and 11 samples in the wet season of 2015-2016. Findings were interpreted to understand trends for parasite prevalence and richness between the two seasons; however, novel helminths for the study species were observed. Trends were interpreted with consideration to the helminth’s longevity, study organisms’ home range use, and host behaviors. iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This research was partially supported by the School of Graduate Studies and Research of Central Washington University, Ellensburg, Washington. Funding for this research was provided by a Graduate Student Summer Research Grant awarded by the School of Graduate Studies and Research, a conference travel grant awarded by the School of Graduate Studies and Research, and the Arlen and Debra Prentice Scholarship for Primate Research. I dedicate this thesis to future students and researchers for whom it may benefit. Many thanks to my graduate committee for assisting me every step of the way; Dr. Gabrielle Stryker, Dr. Lori K. Sheeran, Dr. Kristina Ernest, Dr. Mrinalini Watsa. I would like to thank Dr. Mrinalini Watsa and Dr. Gideon Erkenswick at Field Project International, without which this project would not be possible. A huge thank you to my field and laboratory assistants: Sabrina Moore, Falon Sanderson, Alexandra Sheldon, and Imani Russell. I am grateful to have wonderful coworkers at Mt Stuart Animal Hospital for their moral support these past few years. Thank you to my loving partner, Tasha Gentry, for your continued love and support. I will forever be thankful for two important moments on this journe: the day Dr. Gabrielle Stryker took me on as a student and the day we ran into one another again which reset this project in motion. No amount or combination of words can ever be enough to express my gratitude to Dr. Stryker for all she has done. The amount of advocacy and guidance she provided truly surpasses the role of a mentor, even a great one. Thank you, Dr. Stryker. I appreciate you. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter Page I INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................ 1 Parasitology ............................................................................................. 3 II LITERATURE REVIEW ........................................................................... 10 Primate Parasite Ecology ...................................................................... 10 Seasonality and Primates ....................................................................... 12 Intestinal Parasites of Tamarins ............................................................ 16 III METHODS ................................................................................................. 22 Study Organisms and Study Site ........................................................... 22 Fecal Sample Collections ...................................................................... 25 Ethics Note ............................................................................................ 28 IV RESULTS ................................................................................................... 29 V DISCUSSION ............................................................................................. 38 Parasite Prevalence ................................................................................ 38 Parasite Richness ................................................................................... 39 Acanthocephala, Prostenorchis sp. ....................................................... 39 Cestoda, Hymenolepsis sp ..................................................................... 40 Nematoda, Ancyclostoma/Necator sp ................................................... 42 Nematoda, Ascaris sp ............................................................................ 43 Nematoda, Larval Forms ....................................................................... 44 Nematoda, Oxyuridae ........................................................................... 44 Nematoda, Oxyuridae Unknown ........................................................... 45 Nematoda, Spiruridae ............................................................................ 46 Nematoda, Strongyloidae ...................................................................... 46 Trematoda, Fasciola/Fasciolopsis sp.................................................... 47 Range Use Between Seasons ................................................................ 49 M2 ......................................................................................................... 49 VI CONCLUSION ........................................................................................... 51 Recommendations for Future Research ................................................ 52 v TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued) Chapter Page REFERENCES ........................................................................................... 54 vi LIST OF TABLES Table Page 1 Parasite Studies of Callitrichids of the Past 20 Years ................................. 18 2 Total Fecal Samples Collected ................................................................... 29 3 Description of Parasite Categories .............................................................. 30 4 Parasite Richness of Individuals Observed in Both Seasons ...................... 33 5 Parasite Prevalence ..................................................................................... 34 6 Parasite Burden for All Fecal Samples ....................................................... 36 vii LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page 1 Life Cycles of the Protozoan Parasites Giardia, Cryptosporidium, Plasmodium, and Trypanosoma brucei. ....................................................... 5 2 Life Cycle of Strongyloides fuelleborni. ....................................................... 7 3 Comparison of Larval Rhabditiform and Filariform Stages of Representative Hookworm and Strongyloides .............................................. 8 4 Filariform Stage Comparison Between Hookworm and Strongyloides ........ 9 5 Location of Field Site and Nearby Field Sites ............................................ 22 6 Trail Map of the Estación Biológica Rio Los Amigos ............................... 24 7 Range Use in the Dry vs the Wet Season for One Group of Leontocebus weddelli .................................................................................. 37 8 Life Cycle of Fasciola sp. ........................................................................... 48 viii CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION Understanding the environmental factors that influence parasite prevalence and diversity is imperative for long-term primate and ecological conservation. Global climate change and anthropogenic influences simultaneously bring about unprecedented change in tropical ecosystems while also influencing the ecological conditions for disease proliferation (Wiederholt & Post, 2009). Parasitological studies in primates require thorough, long-term monitoring along with standardized