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Leprosy in wild chimpanzees

Author

Listed:
  • Kimberley J. Hockings

    (University of Exeter
    Centre for Research in Anthropology (CRIA – NOVA FCSH))

  • Benjamin Mubemba

    (Robert Koch Institute
    Copperbelt University)

  • Charlotte Avanzi

    (Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
    Colorado State University
    Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute
    University of Basel)

  • Kamilla Pleh

    (Robert Koch Institute
    Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques)

  • Ariane Düx

    (Robert Koch Institute)

  • Elena Bersacola

    (University of Exeter
    Centre for Research in Anthropology (CRIA – NOVA FCSH))

  • Joana Bessa

    (Centre for Research in Anthropology (CRIA – NOVA FCSH)
    University of Oxford)

  • Marina Ramon

    (University of Exeter)

  • Sonja Metzger

    (Robert Koch Institute
    Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques)

  • Livia V. Patrono

    (Robert Koch Institute)

  • Jenny E. Jaffe

    (Robert Koch Institute
    Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques)

  • Andrej Benjak

    (University of Bern)

  • Camille Bonneaud

    (University of Exeter)

  • Philippe Busso

    (Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne)

  • Emmanuel Couacy-Hymann

    (Laboratoire National d’Appui au Développement Agricole/Laboratoire Central de Pathologie Animale)

  • Moussa Gado

    (Ministry of Public Health)

  • Sebastien Gagneux

    (Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute
    University of Basel)

  • Roch C. Johnson

    (University of Abomey-Calavi, Jericho
    Fondation Raoul Follereau)

  • Mamoudou Kodio

    (Centre National d’Appui à la Lutte Contre la Maladie)

  • Joshua Lynton-Jenkins

    (University of Exeter)

  • Irina Morozova

    (University of Zurich)

  • Kerstin Mätz-Rensing

    (Leibniz‐Institute for Primate Research)

  • Aissa Regalla

    (Instituto da Biodiversidade e das Áreas Protegidas, Dr. Alfredo Simão da Silva (IBAP))

  • Abílio R. Said

    (Instituto da Biodiversidade e das Áreas Protegidas, Dr. Alfredo Simão da Silva (IBAP))

  • Verena J. Schuenemann

    (University of Zurich)

  • Samba O. Sow

    (Centre National d’Appui à la Lutte Contre la Maladie)

  • John S. Spencer

    (Colorado State University)

  • Markus Ulrich

    (Robert Koch Institute)

  • Hyacinthe Zoubi

    (Programme National d’Elimination de la Lèpre)

  • Stewart T. Cole

    (Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
    Institut Pasteur)

  • Roman M. Wittig

    (Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques
    Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology)

  • Sebastien Calvignac-Spencer

    (Robert Koch Institute)

  • Fabian H. Leendertz

    (Robert Koch Institute
    Helmholtz Institute for One Health)

Abstract

Humans are considered as the main host for Mycobacterium leprae1, the aetiological agent of leprosy, but spillover has occurred to other mammals that are now maintenance hosts, such as nine-banded armadillos and red squirrels2,3. Although naturally acquired leprosy has also been described in captive nonhuman primates4–7, the exact origins of infection remain unclear. Here we describe leprosy-like lesions in two wild populations of western chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) in Cantanhez National Park, Guinea-Bissau and Taï National Park, Côte d’Ivoire, West Africa. Longitudinal monitoring of both populations revealed the progression of disease symptoms compatible with advanced leprosy. Screening of faecal and necropsy samples confirmed the presence of M. leprae as the causative agent at each site and phylogenomic comparisons with other strains from humans and other animals show that the chimpanzee strains belong to different and rare genotypes (4N/O and 2F). These findings suggest that M. leprae may be circulating in more wild animals than suspected, either as a result of exposure to humans or other unknown environmental sources.

Suggested Citation

  • Kimberley J. Hockings & Benjamin Mubemba & Charlotte Avanzi & Kamilla Pleh & Ariane Düx & Elena Bersacola & Joana Bessa & Marina Ramon & Sonja Metzger & Livia V. Patrono & Jenny E. Jaffe & Andrej Benj, 2021. "Leprosy in wild chimpanzees," Nature, Nature, vol. 598(7882), pages 652-656, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:598:y:2021:i:7882:d:10.1038_s41586-021-03968-4
    DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-03968-4
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