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Tropical rainforest flies carrying pathogens form stable associations with social nonhuman primates

Jan F Gogarten1,2,3,4,5,6, Ariane Düx1,6, Benjamin Mubemba1,7

  • 1Epidemiology of Highly Pathogenic Microorganisms, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany.

Molecular Ecology
|June 10, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Flies track social nonhuman primates (NHPs), carrying dangerous bacteria like Bacillus cereus biovar anthracis. This highlights an overlooked disease risk associated with animal social living and pathogen transmission by insect vectors.

Area of Science:

  • Ecology
  • Primatology
  • Disease Ecology

Background:

  • Social living in animals offers benefits but can increase disease transmission risks.
  • Synanthropic flies are known to associate with human settlements, elevating pathogen spread.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if similar fly associations and pathogen transmission dynamics occur in wild nonhuman primate (NHP) groups.
  • To assess the role of flies as vectors for pathogens within NHP social structures.

Main Methods:

  • Studied fly densities and associations in wild sooty mangabey and chimpanzee groups in Taï National Park.
  • Conducted mark-recapture experiments to determine fly movement and persistence with primate groups.
  • Tested flies for the presence of specific bacterial pathogens, Bacillus cereus biovar anthracis (Bcbva) and Treponema pallidum pertenue, using PCR and bacterial culture.

Main Results:

  • Significantly higher fly densities were observed within both sooty mangabey and chimpanzee groups compared to surrounding areas.
  • Flies demonstrated fidelity to sooty mangabey groups, remaining with them for up to 12 days and covering distances of 1.3 km.
  • Treponemal and Bcbva DNA were detected in 6/103 and 7/103 flies, respectively. Bcbva was successfully cultured, confirming its viability and potential for transmission.

Conclusions:

  • Flies actively associate with and track sooty mangabeys, acting as potential vectors for infectious bacterial pathogens.
  • These fly-primate associations represent an understudied cost of sociality, potentially exposing numerous social animals to diverse pathogens.
  • The findings suggest flies play a role in the transmission and dissemination of sylvatic anthrax and yaws within primate populations.
Keywords:
disease vectorpolyspecific associationssociality

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