%0 Journal Article
%T Gastrointestinal parasites in captive olive baboons in a UK safari park.
%A Juhasz A
%A Spiers E
%A Tinsley E
%A Chapman E
%A Shaw W
%A Head M
%A Cunningham LJ
%A Archer J
%A Jones S
%A Haines LR
%A Davies Walsh N
%A Johnson B
%A Quayle J
%A Jones J
%A LaCourse EJ
%A Cracknell J
%A Stothard JR
%J Parasitology
%V 150
%N 12
%D 2023 Oct 1
%M 37655745
%F 3.243
%R 10.1017/S0031182023000823
%X From the safety inside vehicles, Knowsley Safari offers visitors a close-up encounter with captive olive baboons. As exiting vehicles may be contaminated with baboon stool, a comprehensive coprological inspection was conducted to address public health concerns. Baboon stools were obtained from vehicles, and sleeping areas, inclusive of video analysis of baboon–vehicle interactions. A purposely selected 4-day sampling period enabled comparative inspections of 2662 vehicles, with a total of 669 baboon stools examined (371 from vehicles and 298 from sleeping areas). As informed by our pilot study, front-line diagnostic methods were: QUIK-CHEK rapid diagnostic test (RDT) (Giardia and Cryptosporidium), Kato–Katz coproscopy (Trichuris) and charcoal culture (Strongyloides). Some 13.9% of vehicles were contaminated with baboon stool. Prevalence of giardiasis was 37.4% while cryptosporidiosis was <0.01%, however, an absence of faecal cysts by quality control coproscopy, alongside lower than the expected levels of Giardia-specific DNA, judged RDT results as misleading, grossly overestimating prevalence. Prevalence of trichuriasis was 48.0% and strongyloidiasis was 13.7%, a first report of Strongyloides fuelleborni in UK. We advise regular blanket administration(s) of anthelminthics to the colony, exploring pour-on formulations, thereafter, smaller-scale indicator surveys would be adequate.