Zoonotic Risk of Intestinal Parasites in Ghana's Protected Areas: A Nexus for Human-Nonhuman Primates-Dog...

Intestinal parasites with zoonotic potential and the risk factors associated with their transmission pose a significant health threat to humans, nonhuman primates, and dogs living in or around protected areas. This study is aimed at determining the prevalence, species richness, and associated risk factors of the interaction between humans, nonhuman primates, and dogs in Boabeng Fiema, Mole National Park, and Shai Hills reserve resources. A cross-sectional study was used to collect stool samples and questionnaire data. The stool was analyzed using a formal ether sedimentation method, and a stratified questionnaire was used to assess the risk factors associated with the interaction between the three hosts in and around the three protected areas. Using R software, the chi-square test was used to evaluate the significance of associations with dog management, hygiene, and sanitation practices. Prevalence in humans was 10.56% in Boabeng Fiema, 44.94% in Mole National Park, and 58.13% in Shai Hills; dogs and nonhuman primates carried higher burdens (dogs: 89.59%, 82.14%, and 27.27%; nonhuman primates: 60.78%, 42.85%, and 47.72%, respectively). Hookworms and ascarids were the common parasites shared among all three hosts. Shai Hills recorded the highest species richness. Parasites identified in the study were strongylids, hookworms, Ascaris sp., Balantidium sp., Diphyllobothrium sp., Entamoeba sp., Schistosoma sp., Trichuris sp., Taenia sp., and Hymenolepis sp. Poor dog confinement, open defecation, inconsistent wearing of footwear, and suboptimal hygienic and deworming practices contributed to sustaining transmission. The high prevalence of intestinal parasites recorded in dogs and nonhuman primates should be treated as a public health threat. These results emphasise the urgent need to integrate intervention, using a One Health approach to minimise the zoonotic transmission of intestinal parasites in and around Ghana's protected areas.