Publication details
Gastrointestinal parasites in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda - our latest findings and future research challenges
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2022 |
| Type | Conference abstract |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Description | Gastrointestinal parasites pose a significant health risk to humans, particularly in tropical regions. Oesophagostomiasis is a pa-rasitic disease caused by nematodes of the genus Oesophagostomum, commonly referred to as nodular worms. The disease is characterized by nodular lesions in the intestines resulting from larval migration. It is a known zoonotic pathogen transmissible between humans and non-human primates (NHPs). Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (BINP), Uganda is home to approxi-mately half of the world’s population of endangered mountain gorillas. The area surrounding BINP is densely populated with livestock grazing and a limited buffer zone. Mountain gorillas are habituated for tourism and research, and therefore come into close contact with humans. The populations of Bwindi gorillas are known to be parasitized by Oesophagostomum and therefore could be a potential reservoir for infection. I will present our latest findings from BINP and analyse the potential implications of these. The second half of my presentation will highlight the challenges for primatology in the future. BINP is situated in South-West Uganda, one of the poorest areas in Uganda, yet the area which provides the greatest income from tourism. In this pre-sentation I will address the future challenges for the field of primatology, infamous for its neo-colonial approach to research and dark history. As the future of primatology, we have the duty to face this uncomfortable truth and change how research is con-ducted. At present most research conducted on primates is carried out by western scientists from the global north, despite the home ranges of the world’s primates predominantly residing in the global south. Helicopter research is a term used to describe research conducted by wealthy western scientists in countries in the global south and leave with their data and provide nothing in return to the local population. I will explore these challenges and present solutions for a more ethical future for primatology. |