Parasites play an important role in primate ecology. Although gastrointestinal parasites have been surveyed in several primate taxa, there is still a substantial paucity of data for some species. Here we report the first coprological survey of helminths in a primate species, the wild black capuchin monkey (Sapajus nigritus), which is endemic to the Atlantic Forest. During three winters and one summer, we collected 665 faecal samples from 44 identified individuals of two capuchin groups in Iguazú National Park, NE Argentina, for parasitological analysis. Overall, we identified eight helminths: Filariopsis sp., Strongyloides sp., Trichuris sp., Ascaris sp., a Subuluridae, a Physalopteridae, a Hymenolepididae cestode, and an undetermined Trematode. The Hymenolepididae (25-42%), Filariopsis sp. (15-42%), and Strongyloides sp. (11-27%) were the most prevalent parasites regardless of the survey year, group and season. On average, infected capuchins harboured 1.12-1.26 parasite taxa. The parasite community observed in the black capuchin monkeys resembled those found in other Cebidae.

Los parásitos juegan un rol importante en la ecología de los primates. Aunque los parásitos gastrointestinales han sido investigados en varios taxa de primates, todavía existe un vacío de información para algunas especies. Aquí reportamos los resultados del primer estudio coprológico de helmintos en una población silvestre de monos caí (Sapajus nigritus), una especie endémica del Bosque Atlántico. Durante tres inviernos y un verano, colectamos 665 muestras fecales de 44 individuos identificados pertenecientes a dos grupos de monos caí en el Parque Nacional Iguazú en el Nordeste de Argentina, para realizar análisis parasitológicos. En total identificamos ocho helmintos: Filariopsis sp., Strongyloides sp., Trichuris sp., Ascaris sp., un Subuluridae, un Spiruridae, un cestode Hymenolepididae y un Trematode indeterminado. Hymenolepididae (25-42%), Filariopsis sp. (15-42%) y Strongyloides sp. (11-27%) fueron los parásitos más prevalentes independientemente del año y la estación. En promedio, los monos caí infectados presentaron entre 1.12-1.26 taxa de helmintos. La comunidad de parásitos que encontramos presenta similitudes con la de otros Cebidae.

Species of the genus Dipetalonema are filarial parasites of Neotropical monkeys. Herein, we report the first record of Dipetalonema robini from Argentina and from the black horned capuchin monkey, Sapajus nigritus, providing additionally information on its morphology. Nematodes were found in the abdominal cavity of a male capuchin monkey found in the Parque Nacional Iguazú, Misiones, Argentina. Among Dipetalonema species, the proportion of the different parts of the left spicule (handle and lamina; membranous alae and filament) is a character of taxonomic relevance. The membranous ala is longer than the filament in the single male parasite examined, differing from published data. The differences observed could be due to the small number of specimens measured.

Las filarias del género Dipetalonema son parásitos de monos neotropicales. En este trabajo, reportamos el primer registro de Dipetalonema robini para la Argentina y para el mono caí, Sapajus nigritus, además de proveer nuevos datos de la morfología de la especie. Tres filarias fueron encontradas en la cavidad abdominal de un mono caí macho hallado en el Parque Nacional Iguazú, Misiones, Argentina. Un carácter taxonómico relevante entre las especies de Dipetalonema es la proporción de las diferentes partes de la espícula izquierda (mango y lámina; alas membranosas y filamento). En el macho hallado, la sección de alas membranosas es más larga que el filamento, difiriendo con los datos publicados. Esta diferencia puede deberse al pequeño número de ejemplares medidos.

In South America, yellow fever (YF) is an established infectious disease that has been identified outside of its traditional endemic areas, affecting human and nonhuman primate (NHP) populations. In the epidemics that occurred in Argentina between 2007-2009, several outbreaks affecting humans and howler monkeys (Alouatta spp) were reported, highlighting the importance of this disease in the context of conservation medicine and public health policies. Considering the lack of information about YF dynamics in New World NHP, our main goal was to apply modelling tools to better understand YF transmission dynamics among endangered brown howler monkey (Alouatta guariba clamitans) populations in northeastern Argentina. Two complementary modelling tools were used to evaluate brown howler population dynamics in the presence of the disease: Vortex, a stochastic demographic simulation model, and Outbreak, a stochastic disease epidemiology simulation. The baseline model of YF disease epidemiology predicted a very high probability of population decline over the next 100 years. We believe the modelling approach discussed here is a reasonable description of the disease and its effects on the howler monkey population and can be useful to support evidence-based decision-making to guide actions at a regional level.