A deadly disease has been killing chimpanzees at the Sierra Leone sanctuary for years and was reported for the first time by an international team of researchers.
(Image: Dkoukoul / Wikimedia Commons)
Led by researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the disease was reported on February 3rd in the journal Nature Communication.
The study suggests that the disease is caused by a newly discovered bacterium that is coming as the world struggles to eradicate the COVID-19 pandemic.
Newly Discovered Chimpanzee Disease Link to Bacterium
Although the chimpanzee killer disease has not yet been detected in humans, the two species share about 99% of their DNA.
Tony Goldberg, co – author of the study and professor of epidemiology at the University of Wisconsin – Madison, says, “Chimpanzees are infected with very few pathogens without infecting humans and very small number of pathogens that affect humans without suffering chimpanzees. “
Other deadly diseases such as HIV and Ebola have spread from big lies to humans. Although other diseases such as polio and the flu have gone the other way.
Goldberg said, “The staff at Tacaguma are very concerned. It looks like something we have to worry about.”
Check out: Tapanuli Orangutan: Rape Great Ape is in greater danger than previously known
Ape great health secret
A new species of bacterium in the genus Sarcina has been named, Sarcina troglodytae associated with the deadly disease sweeping through the critically endangered Western chimpanzees (Pan trolodytes verus) in the Tacaguma sanctuary in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
The disease caused by the newly discovered bacterium has been identified as Epizootic Neurologic and Gastroecenteric Syndrome (ENGS). It causes neurological and gastrointestinal symptoms that have so far killed 56 chimps between 2005-2018.
Goldberg explains, “it wasn’t subtle – the chimpanzees would fall and crouch, sneeze and have diarrhea on them,” He tells Science, “Sometimes they would go to bed healthy and dead in the morning. “
ENGS was first observed in 2005 where it suddenly hit the victims.
Chimpanzees who had been healthy the day before began to fall ill with a nervous system disorder called ataxia. The large onions suffered bloating in the stomach and intestines.
The chimpanzees seemed to be dying of gas that enters the tightness of the texture.
Sharon Deem, director of the Institue for Conservation Medicine at Saint Louis Zoo says, “They did a really good study. I think they did a good job on epilepsy all the way up to the new genomic techniques.”
Deem confirmed that despite the work that has been done it raises interesting questions that need a lot of further research. Whether the disease is caused by other factors contributing to the bacterium or why there is a high incidence of the disease in March, there are questions researchers hope to answer.
Large onions include endangered or critically endangered chimpanzees, western gorillas, orangutans, and bonobos. Over the years, they have lost much of their habitat as a result of human activity, which is why scientists are working two-time to better understand the disease and get to the bottom of it. things.
Related story: Post-mortem study shows many population threats to Orcas
Check out the Science Times for more news and information on Endangered Animals.