Forest Fragmentation as Cause of Bacterial Transmission among Nonhuman Primates, Humans, and Livestock, Uganda

• DOI: 10.3201/eid1409.071196
• Publication Date: 2012-10-02T16:55:34Z
• Authors: Tony L. Goldberg; Thomas R. Gillespie; Innocent B. Rwego; Elizabeth L. Estoff; Colin A. Chapman
• Keywords: Primates; Conservation of Natural Resources; Infectious and parasitic diseases; RC109-216; Trees; Feces; 03 medical and health sciences; domestic animals; Escherichia coli; Animals; Humans; Uganda; Nonhuman primates; Ecosystem; Escherichia coli Infections; Phylogeny; 0303 health sciences; Research; R; 15. Life on land; zoonoses; 3. Good health; Animals, Domestic; Medicine; epidemiology; ecology

Abstract We conducted a prospective study of bacterial transmission among humans, nonhuman primates (primates hereafter), and livestock in western Uganda. Humans living near forest fragments harbored Escherichia coli bacteria that were ≈75% more similar to from those than nearby undisturbed forests. Genetic similarity between human/livestock primate increased ≈3-fold as anthropogenic disturbance within moderate high. Bacteria by humans approximately twice red-tailed guenons, which habitually enter human settlements raid crops, other species. Tending livestock, experiencing gastrointestinal symptoms, residing disturbed fragment genetic participant's primates. Forest fragmentation, fragments, ecology, behavior all influence bidirectional, interspecific transmission. Targeted interventions on any these levels should reduce disease emergence.