Looking in apes as a source of human pathogens.

Area of Science:

• Primate infectious diseases
• Zoonotic pathogen transmission
• Wildlife epidemiology

Background:

• Apes share close genetic ties with humans, making them susceptible to human infectious agents.
• Emerging infectious diseases, particularly vector-borne illnesses like malaria and rickettsiosis in great apes, pose threats to human populations.
• Wild primates can act as reservoirs for pathogens transmissible to humans.

Purpose of the Study:

• To document the range of bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic species found in various ape species that are capable of infecting humans.
• To emphasize the potential for zoonotic disease transmission from apes to humans.
• To advocate for enhanced surveillance and prevention strategies.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature and data on pathogens in ape populations.
• Identification of ape species and the pathogens they harbor.
• Analysis of disease transmission risks at the human-ape interface.

Main Results:

• Apes, including chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas, orangutans, gibbons, and siamangs, harbor numerous pathogens transmissible to humans.
• Vector-borne diseases such as malaria and rickettsiosis are present in great apes.
• Apes serve as reservoirs for diverse bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic infections.

Conclusions:

• Apes are significant reservoirs for pathogens that can infect humans, presenting a substantial zoonotic health hazard.
• Urgent implementation of surveillance and preventive measures is crucial in tropical and subtropical regions with overlapping human-ape habitats.
• Preventing the spread of infectious diseases from apes to people requires dedicated efforts in shared environments.