Occurrence and Genetic Diversity of Protist Parasites in Captive Non-Human Primates, Zookeepers, and Free-Living Sympatric Rats in the Córdoba Zoo Conservation Centre, Southern Spain.

Little information is currently available on the epidemiology of parasitic and commensal protist species in captive non-human primates (NHP) and their zoonotic potential. This study investigates the occurrence, molecular diversity, and potential transmission dynamics of parasitic and commensal protist species in a zoological garden in southern Spain. The prevalence and genotypes of the main enteric protist species were investigated in faecal samples from NHP ( = 51), zookeepers ( = 19) and free-living rats ( = 64) by molecular (PCR and sequencing) methods between 2018 and 2019. The presence of spp. was also investigated in tissues from sympatric rats using PCR. sp. (45.1%), (27.5%), (21.6%), (3.9%), and (2.0%) (but not spp.) were detected in NHP. (10.5%) and sp. (10.5%) were identified in zookeepers, while spp. (45.3%), (14.1%), and sp. (6.25%) (but not spp.) were detected in rats. ST1, ST3, and ST8 and sub-assemblage AII were identified in NHP, and ST1 in zookeepers. isolates failed to be genotyped in human samples. In rats, four (, , and rat genotypes IV and V), one (assemblage G), and three (ST4) genetic variants were detected. Our results indicate high exposure of NHP to zoonotic protist species. Zoonotic transmission of ST1 was highly suspected between captive NHP and zookeepers.