The Occurrence of Some Nonblood Protozoan Parasites in Wild and Domestic Mammals in South Africa

Relatively little is known about protozoan parasites in African animals. Here we investigated the occurrence of protozoan parasites in mammals from South Africa. Oocysts of protozoan parasites were detected in 13 of 56 (23%) fecal samples using conventional microscopic examination methods. Cryptosporidium spp. and Cystoisospora spp. were detected in eight (14%) and five (9%) samples, respectively. Mixed parasitic infection of Cryptosporidium spp. and Cystoisospora spp. was recorded in banded mongoose (Mungos mungo). Cryptosporidium spp. was detected for the first time in cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta), and African polecat (Ictonyx striatus). Antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum were not detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in any of 32 sera tested. We detected T. gondii by PCR in tissues of five of 243 (2%) animals: domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris), gerbil (Gerbilliscus spp.), greater kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros), honey badger (Mellivora capensis), and white-tailed mongoose (Ichneumia albicauda). Our isolation of T. gondii from white-tailed mongoose and honey badger was a unique finding. All tissue samples were negative for N. caninum. The study increases our knowledge on the occurrence of protozoan parasites in populations of wild and domestic animals in South Africa.