Infectious Disease Risk Across the Growing Human-Non Human Primate Interface: A Review of the Evidence

First report of Streptococcus agalactiae isolated from a healthy captive sichuan golden snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana) in China

Streptococcus agalactiae (S. agalactiae) is an opportunistic pathogen, and to date, studies have mainly focused on S. agalactiae strains isolated from humans, dairy cows, and fish. We reported one S. agalactiae strain, named CFFB, which was isolated from a healthy Sichuan golden snub-nosed monkey. Classical bacteriological approaches, as well as, next-generation sequencing, comparative genomics, and mice challenge test were used to characterize this strain. CFFB was identified as serotype III, ST19 combination which is a common type found in human strains. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the genome of CFFB was closely related to human clinical isolates, rather far away from animal strains. In total, CFFB contained fewer virulence-associated genes and antibiotic resistance genes than human isolates that were close to CFFB in evolutionary relationships. In the mice challenge test, CFFB had a relative weak virulence that just caused death in 33 % of ICR mice at a dose of 108 CFU by intraperitoneal injection, and CFFB was reisolated from the cardiac blood of the dead mice. Meanwhile, two intact prophages (prophage 1 and 2) were identified in the CFFB genome and shared high similarities with phage Javan52 and Javan29 which from human S. agalactiae isolate Gottschalk 1002A and RBH03, respectively. Moreover, the type II-A CRISPR-Cas system was detected in the CFFB genome, and the spacers from CFFB were the same to the streptococci isolates from human. These results suggest that CFFB isolated from healthy Sichuan golden snub-nosed monkeys may have its origin in human S. agalactiae. Our results suggested some genomic similarities between the S. agalactiae colonized in Sichuan golden snub-nosed monkey and those in infected humans.

Assessment of the Risks of Zoonotic Infection at the Primatology Centre of the Interdisciplinary Medical Research Centre of Franceville in Gabon

BACKGROUND

Non-human primate (NHPs) conservation sites could be sites of exchange of pathogens involved in infectious diseases. It is important to assess the potential risks associated with this type of structure. The objective of this study was to carry out a risk assessment of the Primatology Centre housed in the Interdisciplinary Centre for Medical Research of Franceville (CIRMF).

METHODS

A questionnaire was administered to the centre's staff to assess the risk associated with each workstation, followed by a review of the various pathogens identified in NHPs. The data were analysed using two diagrams: the Kiviat diagram and the Pareto diagram.

RESULTS

Based on our results, a variety of pathogens such as viruses, bacteria and parasites, potentially transmissible to humans, were described in the NHPs at the Primatology Centre of CIRMF. The position most exposed to zoonotic risks was that of animal handlers.

CONCLUSION

The Primatology Centre of CIRMF is a potential transfer site for the transfer of zoonotic agents. To avoid the risk of parasite exchange between staff and animals, the implementation of biosecurity measures is essential.

Zoonotic pathogens in wild Asian primates: a systematic review highlighting research gaps

Introduction

Ongoing global changes, including natural land conversion for agriculture and urbanization, modify the dynamics of human-primate contacts, resulting in increased zoonotic risks. Although Asia shelters high primate diversity and experiences rapid expansion of human-primate contact zones, there remains little documentation regarding zoonotic surveillance in the primates of this region.

Methods

Using the PRISMA guidelines, we conducted a systematic review to compile an inventory of zoonotic pathogens detected in wild Asian primates, while highlighting the coverage of primate species, countries, and pathogen groups surveyed, as well as the diagnostic methods used across the studies. Moreover, we compared the species richness of pathogens harbored by primates across diverse types of habitats classified according to their degree of anthropization (i.e., urban vs. rural vs. forest habitats).

Results and discussion

Searches of Scopus, PubMed, and the Global Mammal Parasite Database yielded 152 articles on 39 primate species. We inventoried 183 pathogens, including 63 helminthic gastrointestinal parasites, two blood-borne parasites, 42 protozoa, 45 viruses, 30 bacteria, and one fungus. Considering each study as a sample, species accumulation curves revealed no significant differences in specific richness between habitat types for any of the pathogen groups analyzed. This is likely due to the insufficient sampling effort (i.e., a limited number of studies), which prevents drawing conclusive findings. This systematic review identified several publication biases, particularly the uneven representation of host species and pathogen groups studied, as well as a lack of use of generic diagnostic methods. Addressing these gaps necessitates a multidisciplinary strategy framed in a One Health approach, which may facilitate a broader inventory of pathogens and ultimately limit the risk of cross-species transmission at the human-primate interface. Strengthening the zoonotic surveillance in primates of this region could be realized notably through the application of more comprehensive diagnostic techniques such as broad-spectrum analyses without a priori selection.

Treponematosis in critically endangered Western chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) in Senegal

Treponematoses encompass a group of chronic and debilitating bacterial diseases transmitted sexually or by direct contact and attributed to Treponema pallidum. Despite being documented since as far back as 1963, the epidemiology of treponematoses in wild primates has remained an uninvestigated territory due to the inherent challenges associated with conducting examinations and obtaining invasive biological samples from wild animals. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the presence of treponemal infections in the critically endangered Western chimpanzees in Senegal, utilizing an innovative non-invasive stool serology method. We provide compelling evidence of the existence of anti-Treponema-specific antibodies in 13 out of 29 individual chimpanzees. Our study also underscores the significant potential of stool serology as a valuable non-invasive tool for monitoring and surveilling crucial emerging diseases in wild animals. We recognize two major implications: (1) the imperative need to assess the risks of treponematosis in Western chimpanzee populations and (2) the necessity to monitor and manage this disease following a holistic One Health approach.

Threat of mining to African great apes

The rapid growth of clean energy technologies is driving a rising demand for critical minerals. In 2022 at the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15), seven major economies formed an alliance to enhance the sustainability of mining these essential decarbonization minerals. However, there is a scarcity of studies assessing the threat of mining to global biodiversity. By integrating a global mining dataset with great ape density distribution, we estimated the number of African great apes that spatially coincided with industrial mining projects. We show that up to one-third of Africa's great ape population faces mining-related risks. In West Africa in particular, numerous mining areas overlap with fragmented ape habitats, often in high-density ape regions. For 97% of mining areas, no ape survey data are available, underscoring the importance of increased accessibility to environmental data within the mining sector to facilitate research into the complex interactions between mining, climate, biodiversity, and sustainability.

Mitigating Wildlife Spillover in the Clinical Setting: How Physicians and Veterinarians Can Help Prevent Future Disease Outbreaks

Introduction

The transmission of pathogens from wildlife to humans is a major global health threat that has been highlighted by the proposed origins of the COVID-19 pandemic. Numerous barriers impede pathogen spillover events from ensuing widespread human transmission, but human activity has accelerated the frequency of spillovers and subsequent disease outbreaks, in part through a booming wildlife trade whose impacts on health are not well understood.

Methods

A literature review was conducted to examine the risk that the wildlife trade poses to public health and the degree to which these risks are recognized and addressed in clinical practice and medical and veterinary education.

Results

The illicit aspects of the wildlife trade challenge efforts to understand its impacts on health. The U.S. and Europe play a leading role in the global wildlife trade that often goes unacknowledged. In particular, the consumption of wild meat and ownership of exotic pets poses public health risks. The potential role of clinicians is underutilized, both in the clinical setting and in clinical education.

Discussion

Physicians and veterinarians have the unique opportunity to utilize their clinical roles to address these knowledge gaps and mitigate future outbreaks. We outline a multifaceted approach that includes increasing clinical knowledge about the ecology of zoonotic diseases, leveraging opportunities for mitigation during patient/client-clinician interactions, and incorporating One Health core competencies into medical and veterinary school curricula.

Preventing zoonotic and zooanthroponotic disease transmission at wild great ape sites: Recommendations from qualitative research at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Employees at wild great ape sites are at high risk of transmitting infectious diseases to endangered great apes. Because of the significant amount of time employees spend near great apes, they are a priority population for the prevention and treatment of zoonotic and zooanthroponotic spillover and need adequate preventive and curative healthcare. Qualitative, semi-structured interviews with 46 staff (rangers and porters) at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda (BINP) and key informants from five other wild great ape sites around the world were performed. The objectives of the study were to 1) evaluate health-seeking behavior and health resources used by staff in contact with great apes at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park; 2) evaluate existing occupational health programs for employees working with great apes in other parts of the world; and 3) make recommendations for improvement of occupational health at BINP. Results show that BINP employees do not frequently access preventive healthcare measures, nor do they have easy access to diagnostic testing for infectious diseases of spillover concern. Recommendations include assigning a dedicated healthcare provider for great ape site staff, providing free annual physical exams, and stocking rapid malaria tests and deworming medication in first aid kits at each site.

Possible Spreading of SARS-CoV-2 from Humans to Captive Non-Human Primates in the Peruvian Amazon

Human-to-animal transmission events of SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2) have been reported in both domestic and wild species worldwide. Despite the high rates of contagion and mortality during the COVID-19 (Coronavirus Diseases 2019) pandemic in Peru, no instances of natural virus infection have been documented in wild animals, particularly in the Amazonian regions where human-wildlife interactions are prevalent. In this study, we conducted a surveillance investigation using viral RNA sequencing of fecal samples collected from 76 captive and semi-captive non-human primates (NHPs) in the Loreto, Ucayali, and Madre de Dios regions between August 2022 and February 2023. We detected a segment of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) gene of SARS-CoV-2 by metagenomic sequencing in a pooled fecal sample from captive white-fronted capuchins (Cebus unicolor) at a rescue center in Bello Horizonte, Ucayali. Phylogenetic analysis further confirmed that the retrieved partial sequence of the RdRp gene matched the SARS-CoV-2 genome. This study represents the first documented instance of molecular SARS-CoV-2 detection in NHPs in the Peruvian Amazon, underscoring the adverse impact of anthropic activities on the human-NHP interface and emphasizing the importance of ongoing surveillance for early detection and prediction of future emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants in animals.

Strongyloides in non-human primates: significance for public health control

Primates are an important source of infectious disease in humans. Strongyloidiasis affects an estimated 600 million people worldwide, with a global distribution and hotspots of infection in tropical and subtropical regions. Recently added to the list of neglected tropical diseases, global attention has been demanded in the drive for its control. Through a literature review of Strongyloides in humans and non-human primates (NHP), we analysed the most common identification methods and gaps in knowledge about this nematode genus. The rise of molecular-based methods for Strongyloides detection is evident in both humans and NHP and provides an opportunity to analyse all data available from primates. Dogs were also included as an important host species of Strongyloides and a potential bridge host between humans and NHP. This review highlights the lack of molecular data across all hosts-humans, NHP and dogs-with the latter highly underrepresented in the database. Despite the cosmopolitan nature of Strongyloides, there are still large gaps in our knowledge for certain species when considering transmission and pathogenicity. We suggest that a unified approach to Strongyloides detection be taken, with an optimized, repeatable molecular-based method to improve our understanding of this parasitic infection. This article is part of the Theo Murphy meeting issue 'Strongyloides: omics to worm-free populations'.

Is it time to switch to a formulation other than the live attenuated poliovirus vaccine to prevent poliomyelitis?

The polioviruses (PVs) are mainly transmitted by direct contact with an infected person through the fecal-oral route and respiratory secretions (or more rarely via contaminated water or food) and have a primary tropism for the gut. After their replication in the gut, in rare cases (far less than 1% of the infected individuals), PVs can spread to the central nervous system leading to flaccid paralysis, which can result in respiratory paralysis and death. By the middle of the 20th century, every year the wild polioviruses (WPVs) are supposed to have killed or paralyzed over half a million people. The introduction of the oral poliovirus vaccines (OPVs) through mass vaccination campaigns (combined with better application of hygiene measures), was a success story which enabled the World Health Organization (WHO) to set the global eradication of poliomyelitis as an objective. However this strategy of viral eradication has its limits as the majority of poliomyelitis cases today arise in individuals infected with circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPVs) which regain pathogenicity following reversion or recombination. In recent years (between January 2018 and May 2023), the WHO recorded 8.8 times more cases of polio which were linked to the attenuated OPV vaccines (3,442 polio cases after reversion or recombination events) than cases linked to a WPV (390 cases). Recent knowledge of the evolution of RNA viruses and the exchange of genetic material among biological entities of the intestinal microbiota, call for a reassessment of the polio eradication vaccine strategies.

Healing Hanuman's Army: Veterinary Care as a Core Component of One Health Principles in a Southeast Asian Monkey Forest

Wildlife that inhabit urban landscapes face the dual challenge of negotiating their positions in their group while navigating obstacles of anthropogenically modified landscapes. The dynamics of urban environments can result in novel injuries and mortalities for these animals. However, these negative impacts can be mitigated through planning, and onsite veterinary care like that provided by the Ubud Monkey Forest in Bali, Indonesia. We examined 275 recorded injuries and mortalities among six social groups of long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis) brought to the veterinary clinic from 2015-2018. We fit the probabilities of injury vs. death among macaques brought to the clinic using a multilevel logistic regression model to infer the relationship between injury vs. death and associated demographic parameters. Males were more likely to sustain injuries and females were more likely to die. The frequency of injuries and mortalities changed over the four-year study period, which was reflected in our model. The odds of mortality were highest among young macaques and the odds of injury vs. mortality varied across the six social groups. We categorized injuries and mortalities as "natural" or "anthropogenic". Most injuries and mortalities were naturally occurring, but powerlines, motorized vehicles, and plastic present ongoing anthropogenic threats to macaque health. Most wounds and injuries were successfully treated, with healthy animals released back to their group. We suggest other sites with high levels of human-alloprimate interplays consider the Ubud Monkey Forest veterinary office as a model of care and potentially adopt their approaches.

Using phylogeographic link-prediction in primates to prioritize human parasite screening

Objectives

The ongoing risk of emerging infectious disease has renewed calls for understanding the origins of zoonoses and identifying future zoonotic disease threats. Given their close phylogenetic relatedness and geographic overlap with humans, non-human primates (NHPs) have been the source of many infectious diseases throughout human evolution. NHPs harbor diverse parasites, with some infecting only a single host species while others infect species from multiple families.

Materials and Methods

We applied a novel link-prediction method to predict undocumented instances of parasite sharing between humans and NHPs. Our model makes predictions based on phylogenetic distances and geographic overlap among NHPs and humans in six countries with high NHP diversity: Columbia, Brazil, Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar, China and Indonesia.

Results

Of the 899 human parasites documented in the Global Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology Network (GIDEON) database for these countries, 12% were shared with at least one other NHP species. The link prediction model identified an additional 54 parasites that are likely to infect humans but were not reported in GIDEON. These parasites were mostly host generalists, yet their phylogenetic host breadth varied substantially.

Discussion

As human activities and populations encroach on NHP habitats, opportunities for parasite sharing between human and non-human primates will continue to increase. Our study identifies specific infectious organisms to monitor in countries with high NHP diversity, while the comparative analysis of host generalism, parasite taxonomy, and transmission mode provides insights to types of parasites that represent high zoonotic risk.

Association between seroprevalence of measles virus in monkeys and degree of human-monkey contact in Bangladesh

Measles infections can cause significant morbidity and mortality in human and monkey populations. The endemicity of measles in human populations and viral circulation within populations of free-living monkeys may have important repercussions for potential zoonotic transmission events and for the long-term health of monkey populations. Yet, there has not yet been a rigorous investigation of the dynamics of measles transmission where human and monkey populations coexist. In this study, to determine the difference in seroprevalence of the measles virus across different contexts of human-monkey contact, we analyzed serum samples collected from 56 apparently healthy Macaca mulatta monkeys who occupied diverse contexts, with different degrees of human-monkey contact, in Bangladesh. This is the first report of measles virus seroprevalence in monkeys in Bangladesh. We found a clear association between measles virus seropositivity in monkeys and the context in which they interact with humans. Seroprevalence was the lowest in wild areas (0.0%) and increased in shrines (4.8%), urban areas (5.9%), and was highest among monkeys who are used as performance animals (50.0%). This work suggests that a One Health approach informed by local interspecies transmission dynamics is necessary to develop strategies that both improve measles vaccination coverage, achieve long-term surveillance in monkey populations, and prevent measles spillback to monkeys. This approach aims to inform conservation efforts and protect the long-term health of human and monkey populations.

Markers of antroponotic viral infections in vervet monkeys arrived from their natural habitat (Tanzania)

INTRODUCTION

Various human viruses have been identified in wild monkeys and in captive primates. Cases of transmission of viruses from wild monkeys to humans and vice versa are known. The aim of this study was to identify markers of anthroponotic viral infections in vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus pygerythrus) arrived from their natural habitat (Tanzania).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Fecal samples (n = 56) and blood serum samples (n = 75) obtained from 75 animals, respectively, on days 10 and 23 after admission to the primate center, were tested for the markers of anthroponotic viral infections (Ebola virus, Marburg virus, lymphocytic choriomeningitis, hepatitis C virus, herpes simplex virus (HSV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), parainfluenza types 1 and 3, intestinal adenoviruses, rotaviruses) by enzyme immunoassay (ELISA) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Among the examined animals, markers of 6 out of 11 tested viral infections were identified. Detection rates of IgG antibodies to HSV-1,2 (15.9%) and CMV (15.9%) were two times as low as IgG antibodies to EBV (31.8%). Among the markers of respiratory viral infections, IgG antibodies to parainfluenza virus type 1 were found (6.8%). 14.3% of the animals had rotavirus antigen, and 94% had simian adenovirus DNA. Markers of hemorrhagic fevers Ebola, Marburg, LCM, hepatitis C, and type 3 parainfluenza were not detected.

CONCLUSION

When importing monkeys from different regions of the world, an expanded screening for viral infections is needed considering the epidemiological situation both in the country of importation and in the country of destination.

Antimicrobial susceptibility profile of oral and rectal microbiota of non-human primate species in Ghana: A threat to human health

BACKGROUND

The potential for the transfer of zoonotic diseases, including bacteria between human and non-human primates (NHPs), is expected to rise. It is posited that NHPs that live in close contact with humans serve as sentinels and reservoirs for antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

OBJECTIVES

The objective was to characterize the oral and rectal bacteria in Ghanaian NHPs and profile the antimicrobial susceptibility of the isolated bacteria.

METHODS

Oral and rectal swabs were obtained from 40 immobilized wild and captive NHPs from 7 locations in Ghana. Standard bacteriological procedures were used in the isolation, preliminary identification, automated characterization and antimicrobial susceptibility test (AST) of bacteria using the Vitek 2 Compact system.

RESULTS

Gram-negative bacteria dominated isolates from the rectal swabs (n = 76, 85.4%), whereas Gram-positive bacteria were more common in the oral swabs (n = 41, 82%). Staphylococcus haemolyticus (n = 7, 14%) was the most occurring bacterial species isolated from the oral swabs, whereas Escherichia coli (n = 32, 36%) dominated bacteria isolates from rectal swabs. Enterobacter spp. had the highest (39%) average phenotypic resistance to antimicrobials that were used for AST, whereas a trend of high resistance was recorded against norfloxacin, Ampicillin and Tetracycline in Gram-negative bacteria. Similarly, among Gram-positive bacteria, Staphylococcus spp. had the highest (25%) average phenotypic resistance to antimicrobials used for AST, and a trend of high resistance was recorded against penicillin G and oxacillin.

CONCLUSIONS

This study has established that apparently healthy NHPs that live in anthropized environments in Ghana harbour zoonotic and antimicrobial resistant bacteria.

Effects of Tourist and Researcher Presence on Fecal Glucocorticoid Metabolite Levels in Wild, Habituated Sulawesi Crested Macaques (Macaca nigra)

Ecotourism managers and researchers often assume that apparently habituated primate groups no longer experience adverse consequences of prolonged exposure to tourists or researchers. We examined the effects of tourists and researchers on fecal glucocorticoid metabolite output (FGCM) in three critically endangered, wild crested macaque (Macaca nigra) groups in Tangkoko Nature Reserve, Sulawesi, Indonesia. We assayed FGCM from 456 fecal samples collected from thirty-three adults. Tourists can walk through and among macaque groups freely. Hence, we examined the possible effects of tourists both (1) in the reserve when away and not interacting with the study groups and (2) when they were present within the macaque groups. Generalized Linear Mixed Model (GLMM) analysis indicated that when tourists were present in the forest, but not directly among the macaques, FGCM levels in the macaque tourism groups were higher in months with more tourists. When tourists were among the macaque groups, some female macaques experienced rises and subsequent postexposure decreases in FGCM levels, consistent with predictions for acute stress. Male FGCM levels increased with tourist numbers within the group. Nevertheless, they were not significantly different from levels during undisturbed or postexposure conditions. FGCM responses related to researchers in groups varied by group, sex, and tourist presence. However, the temporal patterning of FGCM responses showed little evidence of chronic stress from tourism at this site.

Heat waves accelerate the spread of infectious diseases

COVID-19 pandemic appeared summer surge in 2022 worldwide and this contradicts its seasonal fluctuations. Even as high temperature and intense ultraviolet radiation can inhibit viral activity, the number of new cases worldwide has increased to >78% in only 1 month since the summer of 2022 under unchanged virus mutation influence and control policies. Using the attribution analysis based on the theoretical infectious diseases model simulation, we found the mechanism of the severe COVID-19 outbreak in the summer of 2022 and identified the amplification effect of heat wave events on its magnitude. The results suggest that approximately 69.3% of COVID-19 cases this summer could have been avoided if there is no heat waves. The collision between the pandemic and the heatwave is not an accident. Climate change is leading to more frequent extreme climate events and an increasing number of infectious diseases, posing an urgent threat to human health and life. Therefore, public health authorities must quickly develop coordinated management plans to deal with the simultaneous occurrence of extreme climate events and infectious diseases.

Viruses in saliva from sanctuary chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) in Republic of Congo and Uganda

Pathogen surveillance for great ape health monitoring has typically been performed on non-invasive samples, primarily feces, in wild apes and blood in sanctuary-housed apes. However, many important primate pathogens, including known zoonoses, are shed in saliva and transmitted via oral fluids. Using metagenomic methods, we identified viruses in saliva samples from 46 wild-born, sanctuary-housed chimpanzees at two African sanctuaries in Republic of Congo and Uganda. In total, we identified 20 viruses. All but one, an unclassified CRESS DNA virus, are classified in five families: Circoviridae, Herpesviridae, Papillomaviridae, Picobirnaviridae, and Retroviridae. Overall, viral prevalence ranged from 4.2% to 87.5%. Many of these viruses are ubiquitous in primates and known to replicate in the oral cavity (simian foamy viruses, Retroviridae; a cytomegalovirus and lymphocryptovirus; Herpesviridae; and alpha and gamma papillomaviruses, Papillomaviridae). None of the viruses identified have been shown to cause disease in chimpanzees or, to our knowledge, in humans. These data suggest that the risk of zoonotic viral disease from chimpanzee oral fluids in sanctuaries may be lower than commonly assumed.

[Monkeypox to Mpox or the re-emergence of an old zoonosis]

Monkeypox is a zoonotic disease caused by the Monkeypox virus (MPXV) of the Orthopoxvirus genus. The first human cases occurred in Africa in the 1970s and remained confined to the African continent for a long time until 2003, when several dozen cases occurred in the United States, following contamination by prairie dogs. Unprecedented transmission events have led to more than 80,000 reported cases worldwide between May 2022 and February 2023, primarily affecting men who have sex with men. The changing epidemiology of Mpox has raised concerns about its ability to become endemic beyond its traditional geographic areas. Confirmatory diagnosis is based on direct detection by molecular biology. Pre- or post-exposure smallpox vaccination was widely deployed in early summer 2022 to limit the spread of the disease. In case of severe forms, the use of antivirals can be considered, only tecovirimat being recommended in this indication. The current epidemic has had the merit of showing that a disease that was previously confined to regions of initial virus circulation can spread very rapidly in Western countries and of the need to reinforce the implementation of tools for the surveillance and control of communicable diseases.

Unravelling Antigenic Cross-Reactions toward the World of Coronaviruses: Extent of the Stability of Shared Epitopes and SARS-CoV-2 Anti-Spike Cross-Neutralizing Antibodies

The human immune repertoire retains the molecular memory of a very great diversity of target antigens (epitopes) and can recall this upon a second encounter with epitopes against which it has previously been primed. Although genetically diverse, proteins of coronaviruses exhibit sufficient conservation to lead to antigenic cross-reactions. In this review, our goal is to question whether pre-existing immunity against seasonal human coronaviruses (HCoVs) or exposure to animal CoVs has influenced the susceptibility of human populations to SARS-CoV-2 and/or had an impact upon the physiopathological outcome of COVID-19. With the hindsight that we now have regarding COVID-19, we conclude that although antigenic cross-reactions between different coronaviruses exist, cross-reactive antibody levels (titers) do not necessarily reflect on memory B cell frequencies and are not always directed against epitopes which confer cross-protection against SARS-CoV-2. Moreover, the immunological memory of these infections is short-term and occurs in only a small percentage of the population. Thus, in contrast to what might be observed in terms of cross-protection at the level of a single individual recently exposed to circulating coronaviruses, a pre-existing immunity against HCoVs or other CoVs can only have a very minor impact on SARS-CoV-2 circulation at the level of human populations.

A pH-responsive magnetic resonance tuning probe for precise imaging of bacterial infection in vivo

Accurate and sensitive detection of bacteria is essential for treating bacterial infections. Herein, a pH-responsive magnetic resonance tuning (MRET) probe, whose T₁-weighted signal is activated in the bacteria-infected acid microenvironment, is developed for in situ accurately magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of bacterial infection in vivo. The MRET probe (MDVG-1) is an assembly of paramagnetic enhancer (gadolinium-modified i-motif DNA₃, abbreviated as Gd-DNA₃-Gd) and the precursor of superparamagnetic quencher (DNA and vancomycin-modified magnetic nanoparticle, abbreviated as MDV). The T₁-weighted signal of Gd-DNA₃-Gd is quenched once the formation of MDVG-1 (MRET ON). Interestingly, the MDVG-1 probe was disassembled into the monomers of Gd-DNA₃-Gd and MDV under the bacteria-infected acid microenvironment, resulting significantly enhanced T₁-weighted signal at the infected site (MRET OFF). The pH-responsive MRET probe-based enhanced MRI signal and bacteria targeting significantly improve the distinction between bacterial infectious tissues and sterile inflamed tissues, which provides a promising approach for accurately detecting bacterial infection in vivo. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: : Detecting pathogenic bacteria in vivo based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) strategy has been exploring recently. Although various bacterial-targeted MRI probes have been developed to image bacteria in vivo, the MRI signal of these MRI probes is always "on", which inevitably generates nonspecific background MRI signals, affecting the accuracy of MRI to a certain extent. In the current study, based on the magnetic resonance tuning (MRET) phenomenon, we present a pH-responsive MRET probe (MDVG-1) with T₂-weighted imaging to T₁-weighted imaging switchable properties to achieve in situ precise imaging of bacterial infection in vivo.

Influence of landscape structure on previous exposure to Leptospira spp. and Brucella abortus in free-living neotropical primates from southern Brazil

The environments in which neotropical primates live have been undergoing an intense fragmentation process, constituting a major threat to the species' survival and causing resource scarcity, social isolation, and difficulty in dispersal, leaving populations increasingly vulnerable. Moreover, the proximity of wild environments to anthropized landscapes can change the dynamics of pathogens and the parasite-host-environment relationship, creating conditions that favor exposure to different pathogens. To investigate the previous exposure of free-living primates in Rio Grande do Sul State (RS), southern Brazil, to the bacterial agents Leptospira spp. and Brucella abortus, we investigated agglutinating antibodies against 23 serovars of Leptospira spp. using the microscopic agglutination test and B. abortus acidified antigen test in primate serum samples; 101 samples from primates captured between 2002 and 2016 in different forest fragments were used: 63 Alouatta caraya, 36 Alouatta guariba clamitans, and 02 Sapajus nigritus cucullatus. In addition, the forest remnants where the primates were sampled were characterized in a multiscale approach in radii ranging from 200 to 1400 m to investigate the potential relationship of previous exposure to the agent with the elements that make up the landscape structure. The serological investigation indicated the presence of antibodies for at least one of the 23 serovars of Leptospira spp. in 36.6% (37/101) of the samples analyzed, with titers ranging from 100 to 1600. The most observed serovars were Panama (17.8%), Ballum (5.9%), Butembo (5.9%), Canicola (5.9%), Hardjo (4.9%), and Tarassovi (3.9%); no samples were seropositive for Brucella abortus. Decreased forest cover and edge density were the landscape factors that had a significant relationship with Leptospira spp. exposure, indicating that habitat fragmentation may influence contact with the pathogen. The data generated in this study demonstrate the importance of understanding how changes in landscape structure affect exposure to pathogenic microorganisms of zoonotic relevance. Hence, improving epidemiological research and understanding primates' ecological role in these settings can help improve environmental surveillance and conservation strategies for primate populations in different landscapes.

Epidemiological Survey and Risk Factor Analysis of 14 Potential Pathogens in Golden Snub-Nosed Monkeys at Shennongjia National Nature Reserve, China

Golden snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus roxellanae) belong to Class A, the highest level of endangered primate species. Exploring the infection status of potential pathogens in golden snub-nosed monkeys is important for controlling associated diseases and protecting this species. The objective of this study was to investigate the seroprevalence for a number of potential pathogens and the prevalence of fecal adenovirus and rotavirus. A total of 283 fecal samples were collected from 100 golden snub-nosed monkeys in December 2014, June 2015, and January 2016; 26 blood samples were collected from 26 monkeys in June 2014, June 2015, January 2016 and November 2016 at Shennongjia National Reserve in Hubei, China. The infection of 11 potential viral diseases was examined serologically using an Indirect Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (iELISA) and Dot Immunobinding Assays (DIA), while the whole blood IFN-γ in vitro release assay was used to test tuberculosis (TB). In addition, fecal Adenovirus and Rotavirus were detected using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). As a result, the Macacine herpesvirus-1 (MaHV-1), Golden snub-nosed monkey cytomegalovirus (GsmCMV), Simian foamy virus (SFV) and Hepatitis A virus (HAV) were detected with the seroprevalence of 57.7% (95% CI: 36.9, 76.6), 38.5% (95% CI: 20.2, 59.4), 26.9% (95% CI: 11.6, 47.8), and 7.7% (95% CI: 0.0, 84.2), respectively. Two fecal samples tested positive for Adenovirus (ADV) by PCR, with a prevalence of 0.7% (95% CI: 0.2, 2.5), and further, the amplification products were sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that they belonged to the HADV-G group. However, other pathogens, such as Coxsackievirus (CV), Measles virus (MeV), Rotavirus (RV), Simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), Simian type D retroviruses (SRV), Simian-T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (STLV-1), Simian varicella virus (SVV), Simian virus 40 (SV40) and Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (TB) were negative in all samples. In addition, a risk factor analysis indicated that the seroprevalence of MaHV-1 infection was significantly associated with old age (≥4 years). These results have important implications for understanding the health status and conservation of the endangered golden snub-nosed monkey population at Shennongjia Nature Reserve.

Extensive prevalence and significant genetic differentiation of Blastocystis in high- and low-altitude populations of wild rhesus macaques in China

BACKGROUND

Blastocystis is a common intestinal protist with a wide range of hosts. Thus far, 38 subtypes have been identified. In recent years, wild animals have been confronted with habitat fragmentation as well as an increasing risk of zoonotic disease transmission due to human disturbance. Only limited data are available on Blastocystis infection and subtype distribution in wild rhesus macaques in China. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence and genetic diversity of Blastocystis in nine wild rhesus macaque populations in China.

METHODS

A total of 276 faecal samples were collected from five high-altitude populations (high-altitude group [HAG]; 2800-4100 m a.s.l.) and four low-altitude populations (low-altitude group [LAG]; 5-1000 m a.s.l) of rhesus macaques. PCR-based analysis, using a new primer pair for the amplification of a 1690-bp sequence of the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene, was used for prevalence and genetic diversity analysis.

RESULT

Analysis of faecal samples revealed that Blastocystis infection was common in rhesus macaques, with an infection positivity rate of 80.1% (n = 221/276 samples). There was no significant difference (P = 0.121) in positivity rate between the LAG (84.3%) and HAG (76.8%). Overall, 33 haplotypes were obtained and classified into four subtypes (STs), of which three were potentially zoonotic subtypes (ST1, 29.7%; ST2, 16.7%; ST3, 31.9%) and one that was first identified in this study and named ST39 (12.0%). The STs were distributed differently among the rhesus macaque populations, except for ST3, which was found in all populations. Phylogenetic analyses revealed two major divergent clades of ST3 for the HAG and LAG. Genetic diversity analysis showed a high genetic diversity of ST3 (haplotype diversity: 0.846; nucleotide diversity: 0.014) in the rhesus macaques, but a high genetic differentiation (F_ST > 0.25) and a low gene flow (Nm = 0.09) between the HAG and LAG.

CONCLUSION

Our study, which is the first investigation on Blastocystis infection in multiple wild rhesus macaque populations in China, indicates a potential risk of zoonotic transmission of Blastocystis in the study areas. Blastocystis ST3 showed high genetic diversity in wild rhesus macaques and significant genetic differentiation between the HAG and LAG. Our results provide fundamental information on the genetic diversity and prevalence of Blastocystis in wild rhesus macaque populations.

Assessing Behavioral Risk Factors Driving Zoonotic Spillover Among High-risk Populations in Myanmar

The increasing global emergence of zoonoses warrants improved awareness of activities that predispose vulnerable communities to greater risk of disease. Zoonotic disease outbreaks regularly occur within Myanmar and at its borders partly due to insufficient knowledge of behavioral risks, hindering participatory surveillance and reporting. This study employed a behavioral surveillance strategy among high-risk populations to understand the behavioral risks for zoonotic disease transmission in an effort to identify risk factors for pathogen spillover. To explore behavioral mechanisms of spillover in Myanmar, we aimed to: (1) evaluate the details around animal contact and types of interaction, (2) assess the association between self-reported unusual symptoms (i.e., any illness or sickness that is not known or recognized in the community or diagnosed by medical providers) and animal contact activities and (3) identify the potential risk factors including behavioral practices of self-reported illness. Participants were enrolled at two community sites: Hpa-An and Hmawbi in Southern Myanmar. A behavioral questionnaire was administered to understand participants' animal exposures, behaviors and self-reported illnesses. From these responses, associations between (1) animal contact activities and self-reported unusual illnesses, and (2) potential risk factors and self-reported unusual illness were tested. Contact with poultry seemed to be very frequent (91.1%) and many participants reported raising, handling and having poultry in their houses as well as slaughtering or being scratched/bitten by them, followed by contact with rodents (57.8%) and swine (17.9%). Compared to participants who did not have any unusual symptoms, participants who had unusual symptoms in the past year were more likely to have sold dead animals (OR = 13.6, 95% CI 6.8-27.2), slaughtered (OR = 2.4, 95% CI 1.7-3.3), raised (OR = 3.4, 95% CI 2.3-5.0) or handled animals (OR = 2.1, 95% CI 1.2-3.6), and had eaten sick (OR = 4.4, 95% CI 3.0-6.4) and/or dead animals (OR = 6.0, 95% CI 4.1-8.8) in the same year. Odds of having reported unusual symptoms was higher among those involved in animal production business (OR = 3.4, 95% CI 1.9-6.2) and animal-involved livelihoods (OR = 3.3, 95% CI 1.5-7.2) compared to other livelihoods. The results suggest that there is a high level of interaction between humans, livestock and wild animals in communities we investigated in Myanmar. The study highlights the specific high-risk behaviors as they relate to animal contact and demographic risk factors for zoonotic spillover. Our findings contribute to human behavioral data needed to develop targeted interventions to prevent zoonotic disease transmission at human-animal interfaces.

Characterization and epidemiology of antimicrobial resistance patterns of Salmonella spp. and Staphylococcus spp. in free-ranging rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) at high-risk interfaces with people and livestock in Bangladesh

Introduction

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing global health threat for humans and animals. Environmental contamination of antimicrobials from human and domestic animal feces has been linked to AMR in wildlife populations, including rhesus macaques. This study aimed to describe the eco-epidemiology of AMR within Salmonella and Staphylococcus species isolated from rhesus macaques.

Methods

We followed macaque groups for 4 h per day (2 days) to observe the direct and indirect contact rate and type between macaques and people and livestock. We collected 399 freshly defecated, non-invasive fecal samples from macaques at seven sites in Bangladesh in January-June 2017. Bacterial isolation and identification were conducted using culture, biochemical characteristics, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). An antimicrobial susceptibility test (AST) for 12 antimicrobials for each organism was conducted using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method.

Results

The overall prevalence of Salmonella spp. and Staphylococcus spp. in rhesus macaques was 5% (n = 18; 95% CI: 3-7%) and 16% (n = 64; 95% CI: 13-20%), respectively. All the isolated Salmonella spp. and most of the Staphylococcus spp. (95%; 61/64; 95% CI: 86.9-99%) were resistant to at least one antimicrobial. The odds of a fecal sample having antimicrobial-resistant Salmonella spp (OR = 6.6; CI: 0.9-45.8, P = 0.05) and Staphylococcus spp. (OR = 5.6; CI: 1.2-26, P = 0.02) were significantly higher in samples collected at peri-urban sites than those collected at rural and urban sites. Salmonella spp. were most frequently resistant to tetracycline (89%), azithromycin (83%), sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (50%), and nalidixic acid (44%). Staphylococcus spp. were found to be highly resistant to ampicillin (93%), methicillin (31%), clindamycin (26%), and rifampicin (18%). Both bacterial species produced colonies with multidrug resistance to up to seven antimicrobials. Direct and indirect contact rates (within 20 m for at least 15 min) and resource sharing between macaques and people were higher in urban sites, while macaque-livestock contact rates were higher in rural sites.

Discussion

The study shows that resistant microorganisms are circulating in rhesus macaque, and direct and indirect contact with humans and livestock might expand the resistant organisms.

A Review on Zoonotic Pathogens Associated with Non-Human Primates: Understanding the Potential Threats to Humans

Non-human primates (NHP) share a close relationship with humans due to a genetic homology of 75-98.5%. NHP and humans have highly similar tissue structures, immunity, physiology, and metabolism and thus often can act as hosts to the same pathogens. Agriculture, meat consumption habits, tourism development, religious beliefs, and biological research have led to more extensive and frequent contact between NHPs and humans. Deadly viruses, such as rabies virus, herpes B virus, Marburg virus, Ebola virus, human immunodeficiency virus, and monkeypox virus can be transferred from NHP to humans. Similarly, herpes simplex virus, influenza virus, and yellow fever virus can be transmitted to NHP from humans. Infectious pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, and parasites, can affect the health of both primates and humans. A vast number of NHP-carrying pathogens exhibit a risk of transmission to humans. Therefore, zoonotic infectious diseases should be evaluated in future research. This article reviews the research evidence, diagnostic methods, prevention, and treatment measures that may be useful in limiting the spread of several common viral pathogens via NHP and providing ideas for preventing zoonotic diseases with epidemic potential.

Current Insights into Diagnosis, Prevention Strategies, Treatment, Therapeutic Targets, and Challenges of Monkeypox (Mpox) Infections in Human Populations

In the wake of the emergence and worldwide respread of a viral infection called Monkeypox (Mpox), there is a serious threat to the health and safety of the global population. This viral infection was endemic to the western and central parts of Africa, but has recently spread out of this endemic area to various countries, including the United Kingdom (UK), Portugal, Spain, the United States of America (USA), Canada, Sweden, Belgium, Italy, Australia, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Israel, and Mexico. This is a timely review focusing on recent findings and developments in the epidemiology, clinical features, therapeutic targets, diagnosis, prevention mechanisms, research challenges and possible treatment for Mpox. To date (29 November 2022), there have been around 81,225 reported cases of Mpox. In most cases, this illness is mild; however, there is a fatality rate ranging from 1 to 10%, which might be increased due to associated complications and/or secondary infections. There is a real challenge in the diagnosis of Mpox, since its symptoms are very similar to those of other infections, including smallpox and chickenpox. Generally, to prevent/limit the risk and transmission of Mpox, the detection and isolation of infected individuals, as well as hand hygiene and cleanliness, are essential and effective approaches to control/combat this viral infection. Nevertheless, updated information about Mpox from different angles is lacking. Thus, this review provides updated and comprehensive information about the Mpox illness, which should highlight the global burden, pathogenicity, symptoms, diagnosis, prevention measures and possible treatment of this emerging disease.

Viruses in sanctuary chimpanzees across Africa

Infectious disease is a major concern for both wild and captive primate populations. Primate sanctuaries in Africa provide critical protection to thousands of wild-born, orphan primates confiscated from the bushmeat and pet trades. However, uncertainty about the infectious agents these individuals potentially harbor has important implications for their individual care and long-term conservation strategies. We used metagenomic next-generation sequencing to identify viruses in blood samples from chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) in three sanctuaries in West, Central, and East Africa. Our goal was to evaluate whether viruses of human origin or other "atypical" or unknown viruses might infect these chimpanzees. We identified viruses from eight families: Anelloviridae, Flaviviridae, Genomoviridae, Hepadnaviridae, Parvoviridae, Picobirnaviridae, Picornaviridae, and Rhabdoviridae. The majority (15/26) of viruses identified were members of the family Anelloviridae and represent the genera Alphatorquevirus (torque teno viruses) and Betatorquevirus (torque teno mini viruses), which are common in chimpanzees and apathogenic. Of the remaining 11 viruses, 9 were typical constituents of the chimpanzee virome that have been identified in previous studies and are also thought to be apathogenic. One virus, a novel tibrovirus (Rhabdoviridae: Tibrovirus) is related to Bas-Congo virus, which was originally thought to be a human pathogen but is currently thought to be apathogenic, incidental, and vector-borne. The only virus associated with disease was rhinovirus C (Picornaviridae: Enterovirus) infecting one chimpanzee subsequent to an outbreak of respiratory illness at that sanctuary. Our results suggest that the blood-borne virome of African sanctuary chimpanzees does not differ appreciably from that of their wild counterparts, and that persistent infection with exogenous viruses may be less common than often assumed.

Effects of captive and primate-focused tourism on the gut microbiome of Tibetan macaques

Documenting the effects of anthropogenic activities on the gut microbiome of wild animals is important to their conservation practices. Captivity and ecotourism are generally considered two common anthropogenic disturbances on the health of nonhuman primates. Here, we examined the divergences of gut microbiome in different environments of Tibetan macaques. Our results showed that there were no significant differences in the alpha diversity, predominant families and genera of gut microbiomes between wild and tourist groups. However, these indexes decreased significantly in the captive individuals. In addition, the significant differences of beta diversity and community compositions between wild and tourism groups also were detected. In particular, higher potential pathogenic and predicted KEGG pathway of drug resistance (antimicrobial) were detected in the gut microbiome of individuals in captive environment. Our results indicated that living in the wild are beneficial to maintaining gut microbial diversity of Tibetan macaques, while captivity environment is harmful to the health of this macaque. Exploring ways to restore the native gut microbiome and its diversity of captive individual should pay more attention to in the future studies.

Self-medication in nonhuman primates: A systematic evaluation of the possible function of the use of medicinal plants

Animal self-medication is thought to provide an adaptive advantage, as species would actively respond to a disease state or homeostatic imbalances. In wild nonhuman primates, it is challenging to differentiate plant use as part of the diet or as medication, especially because self-medication can be preventive or therapeutic. Here, we aimed to compile the available potential evidence on primate self-medication modes, investigating which proposed requirements are fulfilled for each plant species reported to date. We systematically reviewed the scientific literature on plant use for potential self-medication in wild nonhuman primates. To construct the extensive database, we extracted data on the primate species, study area, plant/plant's part used, the requirement(s) met for demonstrating self-medication modes, and self-medicative behavioral patterns. We also updated available information on plant's biological compounds and/or physical characteristics, pharmacological properties, and ethnomedical uses. We identified 575 plant species (135 families), used by 25 primate species (9 families). Plants were used by Old World monkeys (46.5%, n = 268 plant species), followed by apes (41%, n = 235), New World monkeys (13.4%, n = 77), and prosimians (1%, n = 6). We found three general types of self-medicative behaviors: ingestion (including, but not limited to, leaf-swallowing, seed-swallowing, and bitter pith chewing), topical (fur-rubbing), and nest fumigation. Plant uses were associated with antiparasitic, antibacterial, antimalarial, anti-inflammatory, insect repellent, among other properties. Self-medication is widespread in nonhuman primate species across Central and South America, Africa, Madagascar, and Asia. Long-term field research efforts and studies integrating different research sites and topics are urgent to advance our knowledge into the evolution of plant selection, medical traditions, and to bring insights into potentially novel medicinal plants and bioactive compounds to treat emergent or established primate and human diseases.

Discovery of two novel Torque Teno viruses in Callithrix penicillata provides insights on Anelloviridae diversification dynamics

The development of high-throughput sequencing (HTS) technologies and metagenomics protocols deeply impacted the discovery of viral diversity. Moreover, the characterization of novel viruses in the Neotropical primates (NP) is central for the comprehension of viral evolution dynamics in those hosts, due to their evolutionary proximity to Old World primates, including humans. In the present work, novel anelloviruses were detected and characterized through HTS protocols in the NP Callithrix penicillata, the common black-tufted marmoset. De novo assembly of generated sequences was carried out, and a total of 15 contigs were identified with complete Anelloviridae ORF1 gene, two of them including a flanking GC-rich region, confirming the presence of two whole novel genomes of ~3 kb. The identified viruses were monophyletic within the Epsilontorquevirus genus, a lineage harboring previously reported anelloviruses infecting hosts from the Cebidae family. The genetic divergence found in the new viruses characterized two novel species, named Epsilontorquevirus callithrichensis I and II. The phylogenetic pattern inferred for the Epsilontorquevirus genus was consistent with the topology of their host species tree, echoing a virus-host diversification model observed in other viral groups. This study expands the host span of Anelloviridae and provides insights into their diversification dynamics, highlighting the importance of sampling animal viral genomes to obtain a clearer depiction of their long-term evolutionary processes.

Synanthropic Flies-A Review Including How They Obtain Nutrients, along with Pathogens, Store Them in the Crop and Mechanisms of Transmission

An attempt has been made to provide a broad review of synanthropic flies and, not just a survey of their involvement in human pathogen transmission. It also emphasizes that the crop organ of calliphorids, sarcophagids, and muscids was an evolutionary development and has served and assisted non-blood feeding flies in obtaining food, as well as pathogens, prior to the origin of humans. Insects are believed to be present on earth about 400 million years ago (MYA). Thus, prior to the origin of primates, there was adequate time for these flies to become associated with various animals and to serve as important transmitters of pathogens associated with them prior to the advent of early hominids and modern humans. Through the process of fly crop regurgitation, numerous pathogens are still readily being made available to primates and other animals. Several studies using invertebrate-derived DNA = iDNA meta-techniques have been able to identify, not only the source the fly had fed on, but also if it had fed on their feces or the animal's body fluids. Since these flies are known to feed on both vertebrate fluids (i.e., from wounds, saliva, mucus, or tears), as well as those of other animals, and their feces, identification of the reservoir host, amplification hosts, and associated pathogens is essential in identifying emerging infectious diseases. New molecular tools, along with a focus on the crop, and what is in it, should provide a better understanding and development of whether these flies are involved in emerging infectious diseases. If so, epidemiological models in the future might be better at predicting future epidemics or pandemics.

Development of gold nanoparticles-lateral flow test as a novel field diagnostic assay for detecting foot-and-mouth disease and lumpy skin disease viruses

Background and Objectives

Rapid diagnosis is a cornerstone for controlling and preventing viral disease outbreaks. The present study is aimed to develop a rapid field diagnostic test based on gold nanoparticles for the detection of lumpy skin diseases (LSD), and foot and mouth diseases (FMD) in animals with high sensitivity and specificity.

Materials and Methods

FMD and LSD vaccines were used as a source of viruses' antigens for preparing monoclonal antibodies and conjugated with gold nanoparticles that characterized using various techniques such as UV-visible spectrometry, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) for each serotype produced in experimental rats and used to capture antibodies for FMDV and/or LSDV. ELISA was used to screen 469 milk samples and 1165 serum samples from naturally infected cattle, buffaloes, sheep, and goats for validation of the lateral flow test (LFT). LSDV DNA was extracted from 117 blood and skin biopsy samples collected from naturally infected cattle during the 2019 outbreak.

Results

The specificity and sensitivity of GNP-LFT were evaluated and compared to Ag-ELISA, Western blot tests (WB), and PCR. A total of 95 FMDV positives out of 469 (20.25%) milk samples and 268 FMDV positives out of 1165 (23.3%) serum samples from natural infected cattle, buffaloes, sheep, and goats examined by ELISA to valid GNPS-LFT Viral LSDV DNA was detected in 60/117 (51.5%) and 31/60 (52.9%). While the GNPS-LFT assay results were 49/117 (41.9%) and 29/60 (48.3%) blood and skin biopsy samples, respectively. The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of the GNP-LFT test were 72% and 82%, respectively. All vesicular fluid and epithelium samples collected from infected animals were identified as positive by the GNP-LFT and Ag-ELISA. Ag-ELISA, on the other hand, was 90% and 100%. While the developed GNP-LFT used LSDV polyclonal antibodies were similar to ELISA and IgG-WB with a sensitivity of 72.8% and a specificity of 88.8%, respectively.

Conclusion

The GNPS-LFT is a novel immunoassay based on mono or polyclonal antibodies conjugated with gold nanoparticles that provides an accurate, rapid, specific, and sensitive tool for field rapid diagnosis of FMDV and LSDV.

Reviewing the Past, Present, and Future Risks of Pathogens in Ghana and What This Means for Rethinking Infectious Disease Surveillance for Sub-Saharan Africa

The current epidemiological transition makes us wonder how the parallel of infectious diseases (IDs) might be at the end of each passing year. Yet, the surveillance of these IDs continues to focus on high-profile diseases of public health importance without keeping track of the broad spectrum of the IDs we face. Here, we presented the prevalence of the broad spectrum of IDs in Ghana. Data from the annual reports on Gold Coast now Ghana, Global Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology Network (GIDEON), and the District Health Information Management System II (DHIMS2) databases were examined for records of ID prevalence in Ghana. Using the IDs from these databases, the paper assessed the epidemiological transition, pathogen-host interactions, spatiotemporal distribution, transmission routes, and their potential areas of impact in Ghana. The topmost ID recorded in health facilities in Ghana transitioned from yaws in the 1890s to malaria in the 1950s through 2020. We then presented the hosts of a pathogen and the pathogens of a host, the administrative districts where a pathogen was found, and the pathogens found in each district of Ghana. The highest modes of transmission routes were through direct contact for bacteria and airborne or droplet-borne for viral pathogens. From GIDEON, 226 IDs were identified as endemic or potentially endemic in Ghana, with 42% cited in peer-reviewed articles from 2000 to 2020. From the extent of risk of endemic or potentially endemic IDs, Ghana faces a high risk of ID burden that we should be mindful of their changing patterns and should keep track of the state of each of them.

Impact of joint interactions with humans and social interactions with conspecifics on the risk of zooanthroponotic outbreaks among wildlife populations

Pandemics caused by pathogens that originate in wildlife highlight the importance of understanding the behavioral ecology of disease outbreaks at human–wildlife interfaces. Specifically, the relative effects of human–wildlife and wildlife-wildlife interactions on disease outbreaks among wildlife populations in urban and peri-urban environments remain unclear. We used social network analysis and epidemiological Susceptible-Infected-Recovered models to simulate zooanthroponotic outbreaks, through wild animals’ joint propensities to co-interact with humans, and their social grooming of conspecifics. On 10 groups of macaques (Macaca spp.) in peri-urban environments in Asia, we collected behavioral data using event sampling of human–macaque interactions within the same time and space, and focal sampling of macaques’ social interactions with conspecifics and overall anthropogenic exposure. Model-predicted outbreak sizes were related to structural features of macaques’ networks. For all three species, and for both anthropogenic (co-interactions) and social (grooming) contexts, outbreak sizes were positively correlated to the network centrality of first-infected macaques. Across host species and contexts, the above effects were stronger through macaques’ human co-interaction networks than through their grooming networks, particularly for rhesus and bonnet macaques. Long-tailed macaques appeared to show intraspecific variation in these effects. Our findings suggest that among wildlife in anthropogenically-impacted environments, the structure of their aggregations around anthropogenic factors makes them more vulnerable to zooanthroponotic outbreaks than their social structure. The global features of these networks that influence disease outbreaks, and their underlying socio-ecological covariates, need further investigation. Animals that consistently interact with both humans and their conspecifics are important targets for disease control.

Decline in Cryptosporidium Infection in Free-Ranging Rhesus Monkeys in a Park After Public Health Interventions

Nonhuman primates (NHPs) are considered an important source of parasitic zoonoses. A study in 2010 revealed high prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. in free-ranging rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) in a public park in Guiyang, southwestern China, which called for the control of disease in animals and long-term epidemiological tracking of Cryptosporidium spp. After the initiation of a series of public health interventions, we collected 2,402 fecal samples from monkeys and 123 water samples from lakes in the park on six occasions during 2013-2019. They were analyzed and genotyped for Cryptosporidium spp. using PCR and sequence analyses of the small subunit rRNA gene. The C. hominis and C. parvum identified were further subtyped by sequence analysis of the 60 kDa glycoprotein gene. Compared with the high prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. in fecal samples (10.9% or 45/411) and water samples (47.8% or 11/23) in 2010, only 18 (0.7%) fecal samples and 3 (2.4%) water samples collected in the present study were positive for Cryptosporidium spp., including C. hominis (n = 9) and C. parvum (n = 12). The former belonged to the NHP-adapted IfA17G2R3 subtype, while the latter mostly belonged to rodent-adapted IIpA9. Therefore, the detection rate and genetic diversity of Cryptosporidium spp. during this study period were much lower than those before the public health interventions, and there was a switch from common occurrence of anthroponotic C. hominis subtypes to sporadic occurrence of NHP-adapted C. hominis and rodent-adapted C. parvum subtypes.

SARS-CoV-2 and wastewater: What does it mean for non-human primates?

In most of our lifetimes, we have not faced a global pandemic such as the novel coronavirus disease 2019. The world has changed as a result. However, it is not only humans who are affected by a pandemic of this scale. Our closest relatives, the non-human primates (NHPs) who encounter researchers, sanctuary/zoo employees, and tourists, are also potentially at risk of contracting the virus from humans due to similar genetic susceptibility. "Anthropozoonosis"-the transmission of diseases from humans to other species-has occurred historically, resulting in infection of NHPs with human pathogens that have led to disastrous outbreaks. Recent studies have assessed the susceptibility of NHPs and predict that catarrhine primates and some lemurs are potentially highly susceptible to infection by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus. There is accumulating evidence that a new factor to consider with the spread of the virus is fecal-oral transmission. The virus has been detected in the watersheds of countries with underdeveloped infrastructure where raw sewage enters the environment directly without processing. This may expose NHPs, and other animals, to SARS-CoV-2 through wastewater contact. Here, we address these concerns and discuss recent evidence. Overall, we suggest that the risk of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 via wastewater is low. Nonetheless, tracking of viral RNA in wastewater does provide a unique testing approach to help protect NHPs at zoos and wildlife sanctuaries. A One Health approach going forward is perhaps the best way to protect these animals from a novel virus, the same way that we would protect ourselves.

Evaluation of Vaccination Strategy Against Rabies in Hong Kong Macaques

The objectives of this study were to assess the serological response to rabies vaccination in Hong Kong macaques and provide evidence-based recommendations for the vaccination interval implemented by the Government of Hong Kong. An inactivated rabies vaccine was administered subcutaneously to captured macaques under a mass sterilization program in Hong Kong. Blood samples from the animals were collected in a 2015 field survey and stored in −80°C freezer. In 2021, the frozen sera from vaccinated animals were prepared and tested for antibodies against the rabies virus using a commercial blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test. Sixty-five samples were available from the vaccinated macaques that had received at least one dose of the vaccine between 2008 and 2015. The interval between the first vaccination and blood sampling ranged from 21 to 2,779 days (median: 990). Only five macaques had a second vaccination record at the sampling time, all with high antibody levels. Among the remaining macaques, 77% (46/60) were positive for rabies antibodies. No specific association was observed between the post-vaccination period and the antibody titer of these macaques, and no adverse reactions were reported. Although the precise level of protection against a potential challenge with the rabies virus cannot be ascertained, the vaccination elicited rabies antibodies in 87% (21/24) of the macaques tested within 2.5 years of their first vaccination. Our findings indicate the potential benefits of the current vaccination strategy to protect the population from rabies and consequential mandatory culling of all macaques if a natural infection occurs.

Human and Animal RNA Virus Diversity Detected by Metagenomics in Cameroonian Clams

Many recent pandemics have been recognized as zoonotic viral diseases. While their origins remain frequently unknown, environmental contamination may play an important role in emergence. Thus, being able to describe the viral diversity in environmental samples contributes to understand the key issues in zoonotic transmission. This work describes the use of a metagenomic approach to assess the diversity of eukaryotic RNA viruses in river clams and identify sequences from human or potentially zoonotic viruses. Clam samples collected over 2years were first screened for the presence of norovirus to verify human contamination. Selected samples were analyzed using metagenomics, including a capture of sequences from viral families infecting vertebrates (VirCapSeq-VERT) before Illumina NovaSeq sequencing. The bioinformatics analysis included pooling of data from triplicates, quality filtering, elimination of bacterial and host sequences, and a deduplication step before de novo assembly. After taxonomic assignment, the viral fraction represented 0.8–15% of reads with most sequences (68–87%) remaining un-assigned. Yet, several mammalian RNA viruses were identified. Contigs identified as belonging to the Astroviridae were the most abundant, with some nearly complete genomes of bastrovirus identified. Picobirnaviridae sequences were related to strains infecting bats, and few others to strains infecting humans or other hosts. Hepeviridae sequences were mostly related to strains detected in sponge samples but also strains from swine samples. For Caliciviridae and Picornaviridae, most of identified sequences were related to strains infecting bats, with few sequences close to human norovirus, picornavirus, and genogroup V hepatitis A virus. Despite a need to improve the sensitivity of our method, this study describes a large diversity of RNA virus sequences from clam samples. To describe all viral contaminants in this type of food, and being able to identify the host infected by viral sequences detected, may help to understand some zoonotic transmission events and alert health authorities of possible emergence.

Disease Risk and Conservation Implications of Orangutan Translocations

Critically Endangered orangutans are translocated in several situations: reintroduced into historic range where no wild populations exist, released to reinforce existing wild populations, and wild-to-wild translocated to remove individuals from potentially risky situations. Translocated orangutans exposed to human diseases, including Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), pose risks to wild and previously released conspecifics. Wildlife disease risk experts recommended halting great ape translocations during the COVID-19 pandemic to minimize risk of disease transmission to wild populations. We collected data on orangutan releases and associated disease risk management in Indonesia during the COVID-19 pandemic, and developed a problem description for orangutan disease and conservation risks. We identified that at least 15 rehabilitated ex-captive and 27 wild captured orangutans were released during the study period. Identified disease risks included several wild-to-wild translocated orangutans in direct contact or proximity to humans without protective equipment, and formerly captive rehabilitated orangutans that have had long periods of contact and potential exposure to human diseases. While translocation practitioners typically employ mitigation measures to decrease disease transmission likelihood, these measures cannot eliminate all risk, and are not consistently applied. COVID-19 and other diseases of human origin can be transmitted to orangutans, which could have catastrophic impacts on wild orangutans, other susceptible fauna, and humans should disease transmission occur. We recommend stakeholders conduct a Disease Risk Analysis for orangutan translocation, and improve pathogen surveillance and mitigation measures to decrease the likelihood of potential outbreaks. We also suggest refocusing conservation efforts on alternatives to wild-to-wild translocation including mitigating human-orangutan interactions, enforcing laws and protecting orangutan habitats to conserve orangutans in situ.

Community health and human-animal contacts on the edges of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda

Cross-species transmission of pathogens is intimately linked to human and environmental health. With limited healthcare and challenging living conditions, people living in poverty may be particularly susceptible to endemic and emerging diseases. Similarly, wildlife is impacted by human influences, including pathogen sharing, especially for species in close contact with people and domesticated animals. Here we investigate human and animal contacts and human health in a community living around the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (BINP), Uganda. We used contact and health survey data to identify opportunities for cross-species pathogen transmission, focusing mostly on people and the endangered mountain gorilla. We conducted a survey with background questions and self-reported diaries to investigate 100 participants' health, such as symptoms and behaviours, and contact patterns, including direct contacts and sightings over a week. Contacts were revealed through networks, including humans, domestic, peri-domestic, and wild animal groups for 1) contacts seen in the week of background questionnaire completion, and 2) contacts seen during the diary week. Participants frequently felt unwell during the study, reporting from one to 10 disease symptoms at different intensity levels, with severe symptoms comprising 6.4% of the diary records and tiredness and headaches the most common symptoms. After human-human contacts, direct contact with livestock and peri-domestic animals were the most common. The contact networks were moderately connected and revealed a preference in contacts within the same taxon and within their taxa groups. Sightings of wildlife were much more common than touching. However, despite contact with wildlife being the rarest of all contact types, one direct contact with a gorilla with a timeline including concerning participant health symptoms was reported. When considering all interaction types, gorillas mostly exhibited intra-species contact, but were found to interact with five other species, including people and domestic animals. Our findings reveal a local human population with recurrent symptoms of illness in a location with intense exposure to factors that can increase pathogen transmission, such as direct contact with domestic and wild animals and proximity among animal species. Despite significant biases and study limitations, the information generated here can guide future studies, such as models for disease spread and One Health interventions.

One Health Approaches to Trace Mycobacterium leprae's Zoonotic Potential Through Time

Hansen's disease (leprosy), mainly caused by infection with Mycobacterium leprae, has accompanied humanity for thousands of years. Although currently rare in Europe, there are over 200,000 new infections annually in South East Asia, Africa, and South America. Over the years many disciplines - palaeopathology, ancient DNA and other ancient biomolecules, and history - have contributed to a better understanding of leprosy's past, in particular its history in medieval Europe. We discuss their contributions and potential, especially in relation to the role of inter-species transmission, an unexplored phenomenon in the disease's history. Here, we explore the potential of interdisciplinary approaches that understand disease as a biosocial phenomenon, which is a product of both infection with M. leprae and social behaviours that facilitate transmission and spread. Genetic evidence of M. leprae isolated from archaeological remains combined with systematic zooarchaeological and historical analysis would not only identify when and in what direction transmission occurred, but also key social behaviours and motivations that brought species together. In our opinion, this combination is crucial to understand the disease's zoonotic past and current potential.

Measuring the Impact of Epidemic Outbreaks on Financial Results

The aim of the study is to analyze the impact of epidemic outbreaks on financial results on the example of the tourism industry in the world and therefore to emphasize decision-making process under uncertainty in economics. To measure the impact of epidemic outbreaks on financial results on the example of the Tourism Industry we use Hodrick & Prescott (1997), Stock & Watson (1999) and Hamilton (2018) approach on data from 1995 to 2019 (185 countries). The study results indicate that total (registered) direct costs of the epidemic outbreaks from 1980 to 2019 on the world level amounts to -95 billions US$ less in tourism spending and 56 million tourist arrivals drop. Total (potential) opportunity costs of epidemic crisis from 1980 to 2019 measured by the one-side HP filter worldwide equals -83 millions tourist arrivals and -126.7 US$ billions of tourist spending. Summary of our findings on estimates from the one-side (HP) (2009) and Hamilton’s filter (2018) declare opportunity costs have an important role in managing tourism demand. In case of practical implications, the effective decision making process in time of COVID-19 demands flexible and innovative growth models, long-term macroeconomic stability, effective epidemic measures, and state subsidies.

One Health Perspectives on New Emerging Viral Diseases in African Wild Great Apes

The most recent emerging infectious diseases originated in animals, mainly in wildlife reservoirs. Mutations and recombination events mediate pathogen jumps between host species. The close phylogenetic relationship between humans and non-human primates allows the transmission of pathogens between these species. These pathogens cause severe impacts on public health and impair the conservation of habituated or non-habituated wild-living apes. Constant exposure of great apes to human actions such as hunting, deforestation, the opening of roads, and tourism, for example, contributes to increased interaction between humans and great apes. In spite of several studies emphasizing the risks of pathogen transmission between animals and humans, outbreaks of the reverse transmission of infectious agents threatening wildlife still occur on the African continent. In this context, measures to prevent the emergence of new diseases and conservation of primate species must be based on the One Health concept; that is, they must also ensure the monitoring of the environment and involve political and social aspects. In this article, we review and discuss the anthropological aspects of the transmission of diseases between people and wild primates and discuss new anthropozoonotic diseases in great apes in Africa from studies published between 2016 and 2020. We conclude that the health of great apes also depends on monitoring the health of human populations that interact with these individuals.

Why do people visit primate tourism sites? Investigating macaque tourism in Japan and Indonesia

Primates are popular species in wildlife tourism contexts and provide economic benefits to habitat countries where primate-based tourism activities are a part of the country's tourism economy. Primate tourism runs a broad gamut from safari-like expeditions within remote primate habitats to designated monkey parks and incidental primate tourism. In most forms of primate tourism, primate ecology and behaviour are directly influenced by humans, making these interfaces particularly relevant for examination using the lens of ethnoprimatology. While several studies have assessed the impact of tourism on primates, little is known about people's motivations for observing monkeys for recreational purposes. Here we present two case studies-the Jigokudani Monkey Park, Japan, and the Telaga Warna Nature Recreational Park, Indonesia-where we provide quantitative assessments of people's motivations for visiting managed (monkey parks) and unmanaged (incidental) monkey tourism sites. We further show that management regimes, socio-demographic attributes, previous experience of interactions with macaques, and feeding them play a role in people's desire to visit macaque tourism sites. In Japan, those who had interacted with macaques before were more likely to visit the park to observe macaques clearly and at close quarters. In contrast, respondents in Indonesia were more interested in the recreational opportunities offered by the nature reserve rather than in macaques. However, here too, people who had interacted with macaques earlier were more likely to visit incidental macaque tourist sites for the sole purpose of viewing or interacting with macaques. Almost 50% of the Japanese respondents visited the monkey park due to personal inclinations, while less than 14% of people in Indonesia visited the park of their own volition. Also, over 57% of the Japanese respondents said that visiting monkey parks helped them gain a better understanding of macaque behaviour, whereas only about 26% respondents said likewise in Indonesia. Unlike the Japanese respondents, most of the Indonesian respondents engaged in feeding macaques. These findings suggest that management regimes as well as socio-demographic attributes may influence people's motivations to visit macaque tourism sites.

Bushmeat, wet markets, and the risks of pandemics: Exploring the nexus through systematic review of scientific disclosures

The novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) is the third coronavirus this century to threaten human health, killing more than two million people globally. Like previous coronaviruses, SARS-CoV-2 is suspected to have wildlife origins and was possibly transmitted to humans via wet markets selling bushmeat (aka harvested wild meat). Thus, an interdisciplinary framework is vital to address the nexus between bushmeat, wet markets, and disease. We reviewed the contemporary scientific literature to: (1) assess disease surveillance efforts within the bushmeat trade and wet markets globally by compiling zoonotic health risks based on primarily serological examinations; and (2) gauge perceptions of health risks associated with bushmeat and wet markets. Of the 58 species of bushmeat investigated across 15 countries in the 52 articles that we analyzed,one or more pathogens (totaling 60 genera of pathogens) were reported in 48 species, while no zoonotic pathogens were reported in 10 species based on serology. Burden of disease data was nearly absent from the articles resulting from our Scopus search, and therefore was not included in our analyses. We also found that perceived health risks associated with bushmeat was low, though we could not perform statistical analyses due to the lack of quantitative perception-based studies. After screening the literature, our results showed that the global distribution of reported bushmeat studies were biased towards Africa, revealing data deficiencies across Asia and South America despite the prevalence of the bushmeat trade across the Global South. Studies targeting implications of the bushmeat trade on human health can help address these data deficiencies across Asia and South America. We further illustrate the need to address the nexus between bushmeat, wet markets, and disease to help prevent future outbreaks of zoonotic diseases under the previously proposed "One Health Framework", which integrates human, animal, and environmental health. By tackling these three pillars, we discuss the current policy gaps and recommend suitable measures to prevent future disease outbreaks.

Global view on virus infection in non-human primates and implications for public health and wildlife conservation

Viruses can be transmitted from animals to humans (and vice versa) and across animal species. As such, host-virus interactions and transmission have attracted considerable attention. Non-human primates (NHPs), our closest evolutionary relatives, are susceptible to human viruses and certain pathogens are known to circulate between humans and NHPs. Here, we generated global statistics on virus infections in NHPs (VI-NHPs) based on a literature search and public data mining. In total, 140 NHP species from 12 families are reported to be infected by 186 DNA and RNA virus species, 68.8% of which are also found in humans, indicating high potential for crossing species boundaries. The top 10 NHP species with high centrality in the NHP-virus network include two great apes (Pan troglodytes, Pongo pygmaeus) and eight Old World monkeys (Macaca mulatta, M. fascicularis, M. leonina, Papio cynocephalus, Cercopithecus ascanius, C. erythrotis, Chlorocebus aethiops, and Allochrocebus lhoesti). Given the wide distribution of Old World monkeys and their frequent contact with humans, there is a high risk of virus circulation between humans and such species. Thus, we suggest recurring epidemiological surveillance of NHPs, specifically Old World monkeys that are in frequent contact with humans, and other effective measures to prevent potential circulation and transmission of viruses. Avoidance of false positives and sampling bias should also be a focus in future work.

The role of religion in One Health. Lessons from the Hanuman langur (Semnopithecus entellus) and other human-non-human primate interactions

Being revered as deities in some religions of the world, non-human primates (NHPs) often share the same space as humans. Such coexistence and interactions with humans, especially around places of worship, have been known to cause significant changes to the behavior and diet of the NHPs in India. Moreover, the interface may also create an opportunity for zoonotic spillover, similar to the majority of newly emerging or re-emerging infections that are found to originate from animal sources. These include the SARS COV-2 virus responsible for the current COVID-19 pandemic; a catastrophic "One Health" crisis; that has highlighted the interconnections between the health of humans, animals, and the environment. Religious beliefs could potentially influence perceptions, actions, and subsequent One Health outcomes resulting from human-animal interaction, which could impact human and animal welfare. Greater insight in this area could provide a better understanding of the complex relationships between humans and NHPs; that may play an important role in mitigating conflict as well as the spillover of zoonotic disease at the human-NHP interface.

Zoonotic Blood-Borne Pathogens in Non-Human Primates in the Neotropical Region: A Systematic Review

Background: Understanding which non-human primates (NHPs) act as a wild reservoir for blood-borne pathogens will allow us to better understand the ecology of diseases and the role of NHPs in the emergence of human diseases in Ecuador, a small country in South America that lacks information on most of these pathogens. Methods and principal findings: A systematic review was carried out using PRISMA guidelines from 1927 until 2019 about blood-borne pathogens present in NHPs of the Neotropical region (i.e., South America and Middle America). Results: A total of 127 publications were found in several databases. We found in 25 genera (132 species) of NHPs a total of 56 blood-borne pathogens in 197 records where Protozoa has the highest number of records in neotropical NHPs (n = 128) compared to bacteria (n = 12) and viruses (n = 57). Plasmodium brasilianum and Trypanosoma cruzi are the most recorded protozoa in NHP. The neotropical primate genus with the highest number of blood-borne pathogens recorded is Alouatta sp. (n = 32). The use of non-invasive samples for neotropical NHPs remains poor in a group where several species are endangered or threatened. A combination of serological and molecular techniques is common when detecting blood-borne pathogens. Socioecological and ecological risk factors facilitate the transmission of these parasites. Finally, a large number of countries remain unsurveyed, such as Ecuador, which can be of public health importance. Conclusions and significance: NHPs are potential reservoirs of a large number of blood-borne pathogens. In Ecuador, research activities should be focused on bacteria and viruses, where there is a gap of information for neotropical NHPs, in order to implement surveillance programs with regular and effective monitoring protocols adapted to NHPs.