Relationship between Toxoplasma gondii exposure and Forest Cover and
Precipitation in Neotropical Primates of Costa Rica
Abstract
The apicomplexan parasite Toxoplasma gondii has been found in more than
350 species of homoeothermic vertebrates in diverse climates and
geographic areas. In most animals, T. gondii produces mild or
asymptomatic infection. However, acute and hyperacute toxoplasmosis is
associated with high mortality rates observed in Neotropical primates
(NP) in captivity. NP are distributed in 20 countries across the
Americas, and although infection has been reported in certain countries
and species, toxoplasmosis in the wild and its impact on NP population
survival is unknown. Differences among species in exposure rates and
disease susceptibility may be due in part to differences in host
behavior and ecology. Costa Rica has four species of NP, howler
(Alouatta palliata), spider (Ateles geoffroyi), capuchin (Cebus
imitator), and squirrel monkeys (Saimiri oerstedii). Here we report for
the first time NP exposure to T. gondii using a modified agglutination
test (MAT) in 245 serum samples of NP (198 wild and 47 from captivity)
from Costa Rica. Associations of serostatus with environmental (forest
cover, annual mean temperature), anthropogenic (human population
density), and biological (sex) variables in howler and capuchin monkeys
were evaluated. The seroprevalence among wild NP was 11.6% (23/198),
compared with 60% (28/47) in captive monkeys, with significant
differences between species (P <0.05), suggesting behavior and
ecology influences. In general, antibody titers were low for wild NP
(<128) and high for captive NP (>8192),
suggesting higher exposure due to management factors and increased life
span in captivity. Seropositivity in howler monkeys was positively
related to forest cover and inversely related to annual rainfall. For
capuchins, annual rainfall was inversely related to seropositivity.
Surveillance of T. gondii in NP in captivity and in the wild is required
to understand drivers of the infection and develop novel strategies to
protect them.