Polymerase chain reaction detection of Clostridium perfringens in feces from captive and wild chimpanzees, Pan troglodytes.
BACKGROUND
For veterinary management of non-human primates in captivity, and conservation of wild-living primates, management of their health risks is necessary. Incidences of pathogenic bacteria in the fecal specimens are considered as one of the useful indicators for non-invasive health monitoring.


METHODS
We carried out the detection of Clostridium perfringens in feces from captive and wild chimpanzees by the rapid polymerase chain reaction method.


RESULTS
The bacterium was detected in most fecal specimens (80%) in captive chimpanzees. Contrarily, the detection rate in the wild chimpanzees was low, with 23% (n = 12) of 53 fecal samples from the Bossou group, Guinea, and 1.2% (1/81) in the Mahale group, Tanzania.


CONCLUSIONS
These results show that the intestinal microflora differs between Pan populations under various living conditions, being influenced by their diet and environment.
Fujita
Shiho
S
Laboratory of Research Resource, Tsukuba Primate Research Center, National Institute of Biomedical Innovation, Tsukuba, Japan. fujita@yamaguchi_u.ac.jp
Kageyama
Takashi
T
D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild / Q000382:microbiology; D003016:Clostridium perfringens / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology*; D016701:Guinea; D002679:Pan troglodytes / Q000382:microbiology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013636:Tanzania