Human Presence Increases Parasitic Load in Endangered Lion-Tailed Macaques (Macaca silenus) in Its Fragmented Rainforest Habitats in Southern India

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Abstract

Background:Understanding changes in the host-parasite relationship due to habitat fragmentation is necessary for better management and conservation of endangered species in fragmented landscapes. Pathogens and parasites can pose severe threat to species in restricted environments such as forest fragments where there is increased contact of wildlife with human and livestock populations. Environmental stress and reduced nutritional level in forest fragments can influence parasite infection and intensity on the native species. In this study, we examine the impact of habitat fragmentation on the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in lion-tailed macaques in a fragmented rainforest in Western Ghats.Methods:The prevalence of different gastrointestinal parasites was estimated from 91 fecal samples collected from 9 lion-tailed macaque groups in nine forest fragments. The parasites were identified up to genus level on the basis of the morphology and coloration of the egg, larva and cyst. The covariates included forest fragment area, group size and the presence/absence of human settlements and livestock in proximity. We used a linear regression model to identify the covariates that significantly influenced the prevalence of different parasite taxa.Results:Nine gastrointestinal parasite taxa were detected in lion-tailed macaque groups. The groups near human settlements had greater prevalence and number of taxa, and these variables also had significant positive correlations with group size. We found that these parameters were also greater in groups near human settlements after controlling for group size. Livestock were present in all five fragments that had human settlements in proximity.Conclusion:The present study suggests that high prevalence and species richness of gastrointestinal parasites in lion-tailed macaque groups are directly related to habitat fragmentation, high anthropogenic activities and high host density. The parasite load partially explains the reason for the decline in immature survival and birth rate in small and isolated rainforest fragments in Anamalai Hills. © 2013 Hussain et al.

Figures

  • Figure 1. The relationship between group size in the lion-tailed macaque and attributes of gastrointestinal parasites; (a) group size and fragment area; (b) the number of parasitic taxa per individual and group size; (c) the number of parasitic taxa per group and group size; and (d) group size and the overall parasite prevalence in groups in nine forest fragments (N) with or (O) without human settlements. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0063685.g001
  • Table 1. Habitat attributes of the nine sampled forest fragments and the prevalence and taxon richness of gastrointestinal parasites in lion-tailed macaque (+, present; 2, absent).
  • Table 2. The prevalence of different taxa of gastrointestinal parasites in lion-tailed macaques in the nine rainforest fragments.
  • Figure 2. The relationship between parasite prevalence and group size in the lion-tailed macaque in nine forest fragments; (a) Ancylostoma, (b) Strongyloides, (c) Trichuris and (d) Bunostomum; fragments (N) with or (O) without human settlements. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0063685.g002
  • Table 3. Parameter estimates from linear regression models for the influence of human settlements (presence/absence) and group size on prevalence of three groups of gastrointestinal parasites of lion-tailed macaque.
  • Figure 3. Rainforest fragments in Anamalai Tiger reserve, Western Ghats, India.

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Hussain, S., Ram, M. S., Kumar, A., Shivaji, S., & Umapathy, G. (2013). Human Presence Increases Parasitic Load in Endangered Lion-Tailed Macaques (Macaca silenus) in Its Fragmented Rainforest Habitats in Southern India. PLoS ONE, 8(5). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0063685

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