Occurrence of Giardia, Cryptosporidium , and Entamoeba in wild rhesus macaques ( Macaca mulatta ) living in urban and semi-rural North-West India

spp., and spp. are intestinal protozoa capable of infecting a range of host species, and are important causes of human morbidity and mortality. Understanding their epidemiology is important, both for public health and for the health of the animals they infect. This study investigated the occurrence of these protozoans in rhesus macaques ( ) in India, with the aim of providing preliminary information on the potential for transmission of these pathogens between macaques and humans. Faecal samples ( = 170) were collected from rhesus macaques from four districts of North-West India. Samples were analysed for using a commercially available direct immunofluorescent antibody test after purification via immunomagnetic separation. Positive samples were characterised by sequencing of PCR products. Occurrence of was investigated first by using a genus-specific PCR, and positive samples further investigated via species-specific PCRs for , , and . cysts were found in 31% of macaque samples, with all isolates belonging to Assemblage B. oocysts were found in 1 sample, however this sample did not result in amplification by PCR. spp. were found in 79% of samples, 49% of which were positive for . Multiplex PCR for , and did not result in amplification in any of the samples. Thus in 51% of the samples positive at the genus specific PCR, the species was not identified. This study provides baseline information on the potential for transmission of these zoonotic parasites at the wildlife-human interface.