Gorilla susceptibility to Ebola virus: The cost of sociality

Abstract

WOS:000239127800009International audience[No abstract

Isolates of Zaire ebolavirus from wild apes reveal genetic lineage and recombinants

“…A key aspect of ZEBOV epidemiology that is still poorly understood is the role and extent of animal-animal transmission among susceptible species like gorillas and chimpanzees (8). Recent data from habituated gorillas in the Lossi sanctuary that experienced mass mortality due to ZEBOV strongly suggest efficient transmission within family groups, as well as repeated spread to neighboring groups (6).…”

“…This finding suggests the existence of some underlying ecological factor that connects all outbreaks regardless of the genetic type of virus involved. Movement and contact processes among animals involving either reservoir or susceptible species, or both, may be potential mechanisms for this (8,9).…”

“…Outbreaks have been shown to coincide with significant mortality among wildlife in surrounding areas (2,3), and it is thought that people first acquire infection through the handling of infected animal carcasses (1,4,5). Ecological survey data indicate that the detrimental effects of ZEBOV infection on wildlife populations, mainly chimpanzees and gorillas, over the last two decades have been much more dramatic and widespread than the frequency and geographic scale of human outbreaks alone would suggest (2,(6)(7)(8).…”

Lignes directrices pour de meilleures pratiques en matière de suivi de la santé et de contrôle des maladies des populations de grands singes

“…La voie d'infection des grands singes n'est pas confirmée mais on suspecte le contact direct ou indirect avec une espèce réservoir, sans doute des chauve-souris frugivores, et/ou le contact avec une carcasse animale infectée (Leroy et al 2004(Leroy et al , 2009) ou le contact direct avec d'autres grands singes infectés (Caillaud et al 2006). Au sudouest de l'Ouganda, il est avéré que des chauve-souris frugivores se trouvant à quelques kilomètres de l'habitat des gorilles sont un réservoir du virus de Marburg, un virus très proche (Towner et al 2009 (Formenty et al 1999).…”

Regional Action Plan for the Conservation of Western Lowland Gorillas and Central Chimpanzees 2015–2025

“…The complex harbours the largest population of western lowland gorillas in the world, at some of the highest densities ever recorded. This is in spite of three known outbreaks of Ebola since 2001 in OKNP and neighbouring Lossi (Caillaud et al 2006;Genton et al 2012Genton et al , 2015, which may have killed thousands of gorillas (Bermejo et al 2006). In Congo, WCS has signed a public-private partnership agreement with the government for the management of NNNP (Hatchwell 2014), providing a strong governance framework for the longterm management of the park.…”