Epidemiology and Molecular Characterization of Entamoeba spp. in Non-Human Primates in Zoos in China

The genus <i>Entamoeba</i> infects both humans and NHPs. In zoos, visitors feeding significantly increases the frequency of human-to-NHP contact, thereby raising the risk of zoonotic transmission. In this study, six <i>Entamoeba</i> species were investigated and analyzed in the fecal samples of 14 NHP species from zoos in Beijing, Guiyang, Shijiazhuang, Tangshan, and Xingtai in China. A total of 19 out of 84 primate fecal samples tested positive for <i>Entamoeba</i> spp. by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Among these, 14 samples contained mono-detections of <i>E. coli</i> (7/84), <i>E. dispar</i> (4/84), and <i>E. polecki</i> (3/84). Five samples were found to have mixed detections with two or three species, suggesting the potential for zoonotic transmission; however, no pathogenic <i>E. histolytica</i>, <i>E. moshkovskii</i>, or <i>E. nuttalli</i> were detected. This study provides new insights into parasitic detections in NHPs in Chinese zoos and offers valuable background information for the prevention and control of zoonotic parasitic diseases.