Gastrointestinal Parasites in Balis Long-tailed Macaque Macaca fascicularis A Zoonotic and Public Health Concern

In Bali, monkeys and humans share a close relationship that presents both opportunities and challenges. While this proximity enhances tourism appeal, it also raises concerns about disease transmission, particularly parasitic infections. This study aimed to identify the types and prevalence of parasites in monkey habitats across Bali, considering variations in location, altitude, and habitat characteristics. A total of 1,011 fresh fecal samples from long-tailed macaques were analyzed using the formol-ether method. The findings revealed the presence of various gastrointestinal parasites, including nematodes, trematodes, cestodes, and protozoa. The most prevalent parasite was Entamoeba spp. (83.44%), followed by Isospora spp. (31.6%), Balantidium spp. (29.87%), Strongyloides spp. (14.07%), Dicrocoelium spp. (9.31%), Diphyllobothrium spp. (8.23%), Ascaris spp. (3.25%), Taenia spp. (3.03%), and Trichuris spp. (1.84%). Altitude significantly influenced infections by Strongyloides spp., Ascaris spp., Dicrocoelium spp., Taenia spp., Diphyllobothrium spp., Entamoeba spp., Balantidium spp., and Isospora spp. Similarly, urbanization was found to affect infections of Strongyloides spp., Dicrocoelium spp., Taenia spp., Diphyllobothrium spp., Entamoeba spp., Balantidium spp., and Isospora spp. However, Trichuris spp. infections appeared unaffected by these factors. In conclusion, longtailed macaques in Bali are hosts to a diverse range of parasitic infections, with altitude and urbanization playing key roles in influencing infection prevalence. These findings provide essential baseline data emphasizing the need for prevention and control strategies and increased public awareness of zoonotic gastrointestinal parasites from long-tailed macaques to reduce the risk of transmission to other animals and humans.