Risk factors for respiratory illness in a community of wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii)

Abstract

The paper reports mortality from respiratory illness over 31 years in the Kanyawara community of wild East African chimpanzees living in the Kibale National Park, Uganda. Although the aetiologies of these outbreaks of respiratory illness often remain unknown, metapneumovirus (MPV), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and rhinovirus-C (RV-C) have been detected in affected individuals. Molecular analyses indicate that these are reverse zoonoses (“anthroponoses” originating from humans), although it is unclear whether successive outbreaks arise from re-infections by local human populations or single introduction events followed by chimpanzee-to-chimpanzee transmission. While much effort has been given to identifying the responsible pathogens, little is known about disease transmission or individual susceptibility.

Description

Keywords

PRIMATES, RESPIRATORY DISEASES, RESEARCH NEEDS, MORTALITY, CLIMATE SENSITIVE DISEASES, ZOONOSES, ZOONOTIC DISEASES, ANTHROZOOLOGY, WILDLIFE, CHIMPANZEES, DISEASE PREVENTION, TOURISM, UGANDA, SOUTH OF SAHARA

Citation

DOI