The Role of Diet in Self-Medication Among Chimpanzees in the Sonso and Kanyawara Communities, Uganda

Pebsworth, Paula A.; Krief, Sabrina; Huffman, Michael A.

doi:10.1007/978-0-387-33505-6_7

Cited by 11 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 621 publications

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“…Intersite differences in plants used in self-medication could reflect local traditions among chimpanzee populations [Pebsworth et al, 2006]. The leaves of two other taxa (D. velutinum and L. camara) were swallowed occasionally, appearing in dung for limited periods only.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High Frequency of Leaf Swallowing and its Relationship to Intestinal Parasite Expulsion in “Village” Chimpanzees at Bulindi, Uganda

McLennan

Huffman

2012

American J Primatol

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Self-medication by great apes to control intestinal parasite infections has been documented at sites across Africa. Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) swallow the leaves of certain plant species whole, without chewing. Previous studies demonstrated a relationship between chimpanzee leaf swallowing and expulsion of nematode worms (Oesophagostomum sp.) and tapeworms (Bertiella sp.) in dung. We investigated the relationship between leaf swallowing and parasite expulsion in chimpanzees inhabiting a fragmented forest-farm mosaic at Bulindi, Uganda. During 13 months whole undigested leaves occurred in chimpanzee dung at a considerably higher frequency (10.4% of dungs) than at other sites (0.4-4.0%). Leaf swallowing occurred year-round and showed no pronounced seasonality. Chimpanzees egested adults of multiple species of Oesophagostomum (including O. stephanostomum) and proglottids of two tapeworms-Bertiella sp. and probably Raillietina sp. The latter may not be a true infection, but the byproduct of predation on domestic fowl. Compared to previous studies, the co-occurrence of whole leaves and parasites in chimpanzee dung was low. Whereas the presence of leaves in dung increased the probability of adult nematode expulsion, no association between leaf swallowing and the shedding of tapeworm proglottids was apparent. Anthropogenic habitat changes have been linked to alterations in host-parasite interactions. At Bulindi, deforestation for agriculture has increased contact between apes and people. Elevated levels of leaf swallowing could indicate these chimpanzees are especially vulnerable to parasite infections, possibly due to environmental changes and/or increased stress levels arising from a high frequency of contact with humans. Frequent self-medication by chimpanzees in a high-risk environment could be a generalized adaptation to multiple parasite infections that respond differently to the behavior. Future parasitological surveys of apes and humans at Bulindi are needed for chimpanzee health monitoring and management, and to investigate the potential for disease transmission among apes, people, and domestic animals.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High Frequency of Leaf Swallowing and its Relationship to Intestinal Parasite Expulsion in “Village” Chimpanzees at Bulindi, Uganda

McLennan

Huffman

2012

American J Primatol

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“…In Ubangi, decoction of the leaf is used against piles as hip-bath and a root decoction is also drunk (Aboaba et al, 2012). In Uganda, the leaves of the plant are ingested by chimpanzees against post-partum pain (Krief et al, 2005;Pebsworth et al, 2006). Emeka et al, (2012) reported the antimicrobial activity of water and methanol leaf extracts of the plant.…”

Section: Acalypha Ornata Hochst Ex Arichmentioning

confidence: 98%

Medicinal plants from the genus Acalypha (Euphorbiaceae)–A review of their ethnopharmacology and phytochemistry

Seebaluck

Gurib-Fakim

Mahomoodally

2015

Journal of Ethnopharmacology

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“…This term is borrowed from the human ethnopharmacological literature. Krief et al 2006 ;MacIntosh and Huffman 2010 ;Pebsworth et al 2006 ) . Interestingly, 89% of the species were used by these people to treat symptoms of malaria, caused by Plasmodium spp.…”

Section: Medicinal Foodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Monkeys, Apes, and Humans

Huffman

Nakagawa

et al. 2013

SpringerBriefs in Biology

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The Role of Diet in Self-Medication Among Chimpanzees in the Sonso and Kanyawara Communities, Uganda

Cited by 11 publications

References 621 publications

High Frequency of Leaf Swallowing and its Relationship to Intestinal Parasite Expulsion in “Village” Chimpanzees at Bulindi, Uganda

High Frequency of Leaf Swallowing and its Relationship to Intestinal Parasite Expulsion in “Village” Chimpanzees at Bulindi, Uganda

Medicinal plants from the genus Acalypha (Euphorbiaceae)–A review of their ethnopharmacology and phytochemistry

Monkeys, Apes, and Humans

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