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Most emerging infectious diseases of humans are of wildlife origin (7). The close genetic relatedness of humans and nonhuman primates (NHPs) makes each uniquely susceptible to pathogens of the other [...]

The bacterial diversity in fecal samples of a wild gorilla is described by using a 16S rRNA gene clone library and terminal-restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP). The results have indicated that fecal populations did not change temporarily, as examined by T-RFLP.

A study was conducted on Asian freshwater clams exposed to water contaminated with infectious Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts. No oocysts were detected in the water 24 hours after the contamination event. The percentage of oocyst-containing clams varied from 20 to 100%, depending on the type of tissue examined and the technique used. Positive samples were obtained when gills and gastrointestinal tracts were processed with immunofluorescent antibody. Clam-released oocysts were surrounded by feces, no free oocysts or oocysts dissociated from fecal matter were observed.

Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts obtained from the feces of Peking ducks, innoculated with the oocysts, produces severe infection in neonatal mice. Histological sections of the ducks fail to reveal life-cycle stages of the cryptosporidia. The number of oocyst shells in the feces is less than that of intact oocysts. The number of intact oocyst shells decreases from day two to day five post inoculation. This indicates that the viability and infectivity of the oocysts is unaffected by passage through the duck's intestine.

The world's remaining 786 mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) live in 2 parks in Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. An ecotourism industry for viewing human-habituated mountain [...]

The in vitro interaction of Asian freshwater clam or Corbicula fluminea hemocytes and Cryptosporidium parvum oocycsts were examined to determine the interactions occurring between them. Results reveal that waterborne oocysts of Cryptosporidium are filtered from water by C. fluminea and are phagocytosed by hemocytes. Environmental factors affect the recovery and phygocytosis of particles and the kinetics of phagocytosis shown in vitro differ from each other.

The article discusses the roles of Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Program (MGVP), a non-profit veterinary health organization. The main aim of the organization is to minimize the risks and to increase the benefits of the research to the great apes.

The comparison of the brain structure of mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) with other great apes is presented. 3 mountain gorilla brains were obtained with a 3T scanner and the volume of neuroanatomical structures were measured and it was found that the brain structure of great apes differ mostly in the sizes of the striatum, cerebellum, and hippocampus.

Research reveals that coprophilic filth flies breeding on or in contact with fecal substrate harbor oocysts of Cryptosporidium parvum. Results also indicate that such flies become vectors for these oocysts with potential transmission of cryptosporidiosis to humans and animals., To the Editor: Infection with Cryptosporidium parvum, a zoonotic and anthroponotic coccidian parasite (1), may be fatal for persons with impaired immune systems (2), for whom a low number of [...]