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Infection of two distinct Trichuris sp. genotypes within and among baboon (Papio ursinus) troops on the Cape Peninsula, South Africa

The chacma baboon (Papio ursinus) population on the Cape Peninsula, South Africa is divided into 16 geographically isolated troops, 14 of which are classified as being commensal with humans. Regular contact with humans in urban and agricultural settings may have increased the risk of transmission of...

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Main Author: Moxley, Courtney
Other Authors: Illing, Nicola
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: Department of Biological Sciences 2014
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access_status_str Open Access
author Moxley, Courtney
author2 Illing, Nicola
author_browse Illing, Nicola
Moxley, Courtney
author_facet Illing, Nicola
Moxley, Courtney
author_sort Moxley, Courtney
collection Thesis
description The chacma baboon (Papio ursinus) population on the Cape Peninsula, South Africa is divided into 16 geographically isolated troops, 14 of which are classified as being commensal with humans. Regular contact with humans in urban and agricultural settings may have increased the risk of transmission of the different parasite species identified within this population. The aim of the study was to identify whether two previously-identified genotypes of the whipworm, Trichuris sp., infect the same individual baboon simultaneously and whether both genotypes infect baboons of different troops on the Peninsula. Genomic DNA was extracted from adult Trichuris worms extracted from the gastrointestinal tract of six baboons from five different troops on the Peninsula. Two sets of primers were designed to amplify different sized products of the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region of the ribosomal DNA through PCR. Diagnostic PCR revealed the DG genotype among two Trichuris sp. specimens in a baboon from an unknown troop, while the CP-GOB genotype was observed among five specimens within a baboon from the Groot Olifantsbos troop. Sequence data confirmed the presence of a single genotype in each troop. This study suggests that the genotypes are specific to baboon troops but the potential for both genotypes to infect baboons within troops on the Peninsula cannot be ruled out. Knowledge of the specificity of the Trichuris genotypes to baboon hosts of different troops may inform our understanding of the evolution of diversity within this genus. Future research into the transmission of both genotypes within and between troops may also highlight the potential for two distinct species of Trichuris to exist among the baboons. Considering the close contact between baboons and humans on the Peninsula, clarification on host specificity of either genotype will also be important for managing zoonoses and preventing break-outs of infectious diseases between the species.
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institution University of Cape Town (South Africa)
language eng
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:33:51.607Z
license_str Not specified — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository
publishDate 2014
publishDateRange 2014
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publisher Department of Biological Sciences
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spelling oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/7625 Infection of two distinct Trichuris sp. genotypes within and among baboon (Papio ursinus) troops on the Cape Peninsula, South Africa Moxley, Courtney Illing, Nicola O'Riain, Justin The chacma baboon (Papio ursinus) population on the Cape Peninsula, South Africa is divided into 16 geographically isolated troops, 14 of which are classified as being commensal with humans. Regular contact with humans in urban and agricultural settings may have increased the risk of transmission of the different parasite species identified within this population. The aim of the study was to identify whether two previously-identified genotypes of the whipworm, Trichuris sp., infect the same individual baboon simultaneously and whether both genotypes infect baboons of different troops on the Peninsula. Genomic DNA was extracted from adult Trichuris worms extracted from the gastrointestinal tract of six baboons from five different troops on the Peninsula. Two sets of primers were designed to amplify different sized products of the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region of the ribosomal DNA through PCR. Diagnostic PCR revealed the DG genotype among two Trichuris sp. specimens in a baboon from an unknown troop, while the CP-GOB genotype was observed among five specimens within a baboon from the Groot Olifantsbos troop. Sequence data confirmed the presence of a single genotype in each troop. This study suggests that the genotypes are specific to baboon troops but the potential for both genotypes to infect baboons within troops on the Peninsula cannot be ruled out. Knowledge of the specificity of the Trichuris genotypes to baboon hosts of different troops may inform our understanding of the evolution of diversity within this genus. Future research into the transmission of both genotypes within and between troops may also highlight the potential for two distinct species of Trichuris to exist among the baboons. Considering the close contact between baboons and humans on the Peninsula, clarification on host specificity of either genotype will also be important for managing zoonoses and preventing break-outs of infectious diseases between the species. 2014-09-22T12:00:07Z 2014-09-22T12:00:07Z 2013 Bachelor Thesis Honours BSc http://hdl.handle.net/11427/7625 eng application/pdf Department of Biological Sciences Faculty of Science University of Cape Town
spellingShingle Moxley, Courtney
Infection of two distinct Trichuris sp. genotypes within and among baboon (Papio ursinus) troops on the Cape Peninsula, South Africa
thesis_degree_str Bachelor's / Honours
title Infection of two distinct Trichuris sp. genotypes within and among baboon (Papio ursinus) troops on the Cape Peninsula, South Africa
title_full Infection of two distinct Trichuris sp. genotypes within and among baboon (Papio ursinus) troops on the Cape Peninsula, South Africa
title_fullStr Infection of two distinct Trichuris sp. genotypes within and among baboon (Papio ursinus) troops on the Cape Peninsula, South Africa
title_full_unstemmed Infection of two distinct Trichuris sp. genotypes within and among baboon (Papio ursinus) troops on the Cape Peninsula, South Africa
title_short Infection of two distinct Trichuris sp. genotypes within and among baboon (Papio ursinus) troops on the Cape Peninsula, South Africa
title_sort infection of two distinct trichuris sp genotypes within and among baboon papio ursinus troops on the cape peninsula south africa
url http://hdl.handle.net/11427/7625
work_keys_str_mv AT moxleycourtney infectionoftwodistincttrichurisspgenotypeswithinandamongbaboonpapioursinustroopsonthecapepeninsulasouthafrica