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Potential zoonotic pathogens hosted by endangered bonobos
Hacène Medkour1,2, Sergei Castaneda1,2, Inestin Amona2,3
1Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, AP-HM, MEPHI, IHU-Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France.
Scientific Reports
|March 19, 2021
Summary
Bonobos harbor diverse potentially zoonotic viruses, bacteria, and parasites, highlighting their role as reservoirs for human infectious agents. This study screened fecal samples, revealing coinfections and specific pathogen prevalence in wild and semi-captive populations.
Area of Science:
- Primate Health
- Zoonotic Diseases
- Microbiology
Background:
- Limited research exists on bonobos (Pan paniscus) as reservoirs for human infectious agents.
- Understanding bonobo health is crucial due to their close genetic relationship with humans.
- Previous studies often focused on single pathogens, lacking a comprehensive overview.
Purpose of the Study:
- To screen bonobo stool samples for a wide range of infectious agents (viruses, bacteria, parasites).
- To identify potentially zoonotic pathogens present in bonobo populations.
- To investigate pathogen prevalence in both semi-captive and wild bonobos.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 91 stool samples from bonobos in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
- Utilized noninvasive fecal sampling.
- Employed focused PCR diagnostics for DNA/RNA sequence detection.
Main Results:
- Detected potentially zoonotic viruses, bacteria, and parasites, with some individuals coinfected.
- High prevalence of Human mastadenoviruses (HAdV-C, HAdV-B, HAdV-E) and Encephalomyocarditis viruses.
- Identified various bacteria (Treponema spp., Mycobacterium spp., Acinetobacter spp., Salmonella spp., Leptospira interrogans) and zoonotic parasites (Taenia solium, Strongyloides stercoralis, Giardia lamblia, Oesophagostomum spp.).
Conclusions:
- Bonobos harbor a diverse array of potentially zoonotic pathogens.
- Findings suggest bonobos can act as reservoirs for infectious agents transmissible to humans.
- Further research is needed to understand the pathogenicity and transmission dynamics of identified agents.
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