Preliminary Investigation of Zooanthroponosis in a Nigerian Zoological Garden

We investigated the 11 zookeepers at the University of Ibadan Zoological Garden, Ibadan, Nigeria for helminth ova and protozoan cysts and also conducted a sentinel study on the zoo animals. The faecal samples of 7 (63.6%) zookeepers were positive for either helminth ova or protozoan cysts. Helminths encountered were those of Ancylostoma duodenale, Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura. The cysts found included those of Giardia Lamblia and Entamoeba histolytica. Results of sentinel study on the zoo animals showed that faecal samples from the non-human primates contain ova and cysts of parasites that were found in the faecal samples from the zookeepers. This study affirms the possibility of transmission of parasitic infection from animals to man and vice versa in the Zoological Garden. Routine screening for parasites and anti-parasitic therapy for both zookeepers and animals are suggested.