Author
Listed:
- Fabian H. Leendertz
(Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
Robert Koch-Institut
Free University of Berlin)
- Heinz Ellerbrok
(Robert Koch-Institut)
- Christophe Boesch
(Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology)
- Emmanuel Couacy-Hymann
(Lanada/Lcpa)
- Kerstin Mätz-Rensing
(German Primate Center)
- Regine Hakenbeck
(University of Kaiserslautern, Paul-Ehrlich-Straße)
- Carina Bergmann
(University of Kaiserslautern, Paul-Ehrlich-Straße)
- Pola Abaza
(Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
Robert Koch-Institut)
- Sandra Junglen
(Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
Robert Koch-Institut)
- Yasmin Moebius
(Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology)
- Linda Vigilant
(Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology)
- Pierre Formenty
(World Health Organisation, WHO Office)
- Georg Pauli
(Robert Koch-Institut)
Abstract
Infectious disease has joined habitat loss and hunting as threats to the survival of the remaining wild populations of great apes. Nevertheless, relatively little is known about the causative agents1,2,3. We investigated an unusually high number of sudden deaths observed over nine months in three communities of wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) in the Taï National Park, Ivory Coast. Here we report combined pathological, cytological and molecular investigations that identified Bacillus anthracis as the cause of death for at least six individuals. We show that anthrax can be found in wild non-human primates living in a tropical rainforest, a habitat not previously known to harbour B. anthracis. Anthrax is an acute disease that infects ruminants4,5, but other mammals, including humans, can be infected through contacting or inhaling high doses of spores or by consuming meat from infected animals6. Respiratory and gastrointestinal anthrax are characterized by rapid onset, fever, septicaemia and a high fatality rate without early antibiotic treatment6,7. Our results suggest that epidemic diseases represent substantial threats to wild ape populations, and through bushmeat consumption also pose a hazard to human health.
Suggested Citation
Fabian H. Leendertz & Heinz Ellerbrok & Christophe Boesch & Emmanuel Couacy-Hymann & Kerstin Mätz-Rensing & Regine Hakenbeck & Carina Bergmann & Pola Abaza & Sandra Junglen & Yasmin Moebius & Linda Vi, 2004.
"Anthrax kills wild chimpanzees in a tropical rainforest,"
Nature, Nature, vol. 430(6998), pages 451-452, July.
Handle:
RePEc:nat:nature:v:430:y:2004:i:6998:d:10.1038_nature02722
DOI: 10.1038/nature02722
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Citations
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Cited by:
- Lauren A. Choate & Gilad Barshad & Pierce W. McMahon & Iskander Said & Edward J. Rice & Paul R. Munn & James J. Lewis & Charles G. Danko, 2021.
"Multiple stages of evolutionary change in anthrax toxin receptor expression in humans,"
Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-12, December.
- Kenneth N Cameron & Patricia Reed & David B Morgan & Alain I Ondzié & Crickette M Sanz & Hjalmar S Kühl & Sarah H Olson & Eric Leroy & William B Karesh & Roger Mundry, 2016.
"Spatial and Temporal Dynamics of a Mortality Event among Central African Great Apes,"
PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(5), pages 1-14, May.
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