Effects of socio-ecological variability on patterns of gastrointestinal virus prevalence and diversity in the lemur community of Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar Público

Abstract

Diarrheal viruses are amongst one of the most common causes of morbidity in humans in developing countries; however, they have seldom been studied in wild non-human primates (NHPs). Due to a similar evolutionary history between humans and NHPs, as well as the increasing proximity of human populations to shrinking NHP territories, an understanding of NHP disease has the potential to inform decision-making for primate conservation and human health. In the first study to examine diarrheal viruses in wild lemur taxa, we screened individual lemurs for adenovirus, enterovirus, rotavirus, and norovirus (genogroups GI and GII), which are found in human populations in Madagascar. Eighty-four fecal samples were non-invasively collected from the seven dominant species of lemurs of Ranomafana National Park (RNP), Madagascar, during the 2011 and 2012 dry seasons (May-August). Of the seven taxa tested, all were infected with one or more diarrheal viruses. Norovirus GII, the most commonly exhibited virus, was found in 26.7% of individuals, followed by adenovirus in 25%. Because these viruses are transmitted via the fecal-oral route, we associated lemur dietary habits with infection rates and found that individuals with more terrestrial feeding patterns had lower viral loads than more arboreal feeding species. Given the nature of transmission of these viruses, changes in prevalence patterns will likely differ in the rainy season. Transmission of these viruses from humans to lemurs poses a serious risk for these already endangered species, while transmission from lemurs to humans may represent a health risk for tourists and local inhabitants. Future sequence-based approaches will help to resolve the zoonotic potential of the viruses recovered from lemurs.

Table of Contents

Introduction...1
Methods...13
Results...22
Discussion...27
Tables...32
Figures...37
Literature Cited...41

About this Honors Thesis

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School	Emory College
Department	English and History
Degree	BS
Submission	Honors Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Health Sciences, Public Health Anthropology, Physical Environmental Sciences
Palavra-chave	Madagascar Primate disease ecology
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Gillespie, Thomas, Emory University
Committee Members	Moe, Christine L, Emory University Kitron, Uriel, Emory University

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