New study finds how Cameroon population interacting with nonhuman primates like monkeys and apes could put people at risk of infection with new diseases that are spread through them. The findings of the study are published in the journal PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases.
Animal diseases that infect humans are a major threat to human health, and diseases often spillover to humans from nonhuman primates.
E. coli Infection / Escherichia coli Infection
E. coli is a type of gram negative bacteria that lives in the gastrointestinal tract of people and animals. Some E. coli bacteria strains in contaminated food and water can cause diarrhea, urinary tract infections and abdominal cramps.
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‘More than three-fifths of rising infectious diseases are now transmitted from animals to humans. Multidisciplinary social science and ecological strategies should be used to improve surveillance and communications with forest populations about neglected tropical diseases.’
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Zoonotic diseases those which originate in other animal species before spilling over to humans now constitute more than 60 percent of emerging infectious diseases. Of these zoonotic diseases, 70 percent reportedly come from wild animals. Because of the similarity between humans and nonhuman primates, these monkeys and apes serve as frequent reservoirs or amplifiers for pathogens that pose a risk to human populations.
In the new work, Tamara Giles-Vernick of the Institut Pasteur, France, and Victor Narat of the French Center for National Scientific Research, with their colleagues carried out surveys, real-time data collection, oral history interviews, and wild meat surveys to paint a full picture of the physical exposure of people in southeastern Cameroon to nonhuman primate species. Data were collected in 2016 and 2017 and included information from multiple villages and hundreds of people.
![Fungal Infections]( "Fungal Infections")
Fungal infections are caused by fungi that include yeasts and molds, and occur in those with a weak immunity or following prolonged antibiotic use.
The researchers found that Cameroonian adults have frequent physical contact with primates, and more with monkeys than apes. This contact is most often through hunting, butchering, preparing and consuming meat, but also includes injuries sustained from gorillas. Some 85% of questionnaire respondents had eaten primate meat in their lifetimes. In general, the exposure risk in any given village was directly related to the relative density of nonhuman primates and their proximity to human settlements.
"National and international authorities should support improved surveillance of humans and abundant monkey species, as well as popular messages to promote safe meat handling practices," the researchers say.
"Multidisciplinary social science and ecological approaches should be used to improve surveillance and communications with forest populations about neglected tropical diseases."
Source: Eurekalert
Fungal Infections
Fungal infections are caused by fungi that include yeasts and molds, and occur in those with a weak immunity or following prolonged antibiotic use.
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The researchers found that Cameroonian adults have frequent physical contact with primates, and more with monkeys than apes. This contact is most often through hunting, butchering, preparing and consuming meat, but also includes injuries sustained from gorillas. Some 85% of questionnaire respondents had eaten primate meat in their lifetimes. In general, the exposure risk in any given village was directly related to the relative density of nonhuman primates and their proximity to human settlements.
"National and international authorities should support improved surveillance of humans and abundant monkey species, as well as popular messages to promote safe meat handling practices," the researchers say.
"Multidisciplinary social science and ecological approaches should be used to improve surveillance and communications with forest populations about neglected tropical diseases."
Source: Eurekalert
Hookworm Infection
Hookworm infection, a parasitic intestinal infection is more prevalent in places with poor sanitation and hygiene as the hookworms spread through contaminated soil.
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 Birth Defects - InfectionsBirth defects are abnormalities, which occur before the birth of the baby and can be caused due to genetic, environmental and other unknown reasons. | Advertisement
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