Sneak Peek: Endangered primates harbour fewer parasites - life - 08 February 2007 - New Scientist

Threatened and endangered primates provide a different "landscape" for their parasites because they occur at low density and intergroup encounters are likely less frequent. Many behaviors that affect parasite success might differ depending on the features of the habitat where the endangered primates are living.

Groups might be forced to travel extensively to access widely scattered resources or conversely remain unusually sedentary because of the location of a critical resource (i.e. central place foraging). The quality of the habitat where the primate population is living could also influence the success of the parasites, and hence the observed load. For example, load may vary depending on whether the primate host is being driven into novel areas unsuitable for some stages of parasite reproduction, or whether the quality/quantity/type of food available has some effect on primates, e.g. nutritional plane and body condition, making them better or worse hosts.

See more at NewScientist. Endangered primates harbour fewer parasites - life - 08 February 2007 - New Scientist: "Primates threatened with extinction harbour fewer parasites than their non-threatened counterparts, a new study shows. It could leave the most vulnerable more susceptible to infectious disease, the researchers say.