title: Detection and characterization of zoonotic pathogens of free-ranging non-human primates from Zambia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Wildlife may harbor infectious pathogens that are of zoonotic concern acting as a reservoir of diseases transmissible to humans and domestic animals. This is due to human-wildlife conflicts that have become more frequent and severe over recent decades, competition for the available natural habitats and resources leading to increased human encroachment on previously wild and uninhabited areas.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 88 spleen DNA samples from baboons and vervet monkeys from Zambia were tested for zoonotic pathogens using genus or species-specific PCR. The amplified products were then subjected to sequencing analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We detected three different pathogenic agents, including Anaplasma phagocytophilum in 12 samples (13.6%), Rickettsia spp. in 35 samples (39.8%) and Babesia spp. in 2 samples (2.3%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The continuously increasing contacts between humans and primate populations raise concerns about transmission of pathogens between these groups. Therefore, increased medical and public awareness and public health surveillance support will be required to detect and control infections caused by these agents at the interface between humans and wildlife.
authors.affiliation: Division of Collaboration and Education, Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Kita 20, Nishi 10, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 001-0020, Japan. jescanl2001@yahoo.co.uk.|National Livestock Resources Research Institute (NaLIRRI), P.O. Box 96, Tororo, Uganda. jescanl2001@yahoo.co.uk.
authors.forename: Jesca
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nakayima
authors.affiliation: Division of Collaboration and Education, Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Kita 20, Nishi 10, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 001-0020, Japan. kyouko.hayashida@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Kyoko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hayashida
authors.affiliation: Unit of Risk Analysis and Management, Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Kita 20, Nishi 10, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 001-0020, Japan. ryo.nakao@czc.hokudai.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Ryo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nakao
authors.affiliation: Hokudai Center for Zoonosis Control in Zambia, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, PO Box 32379, Lusaka, Zambia. ishiia@czc.hokudai.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Akihiro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ishii
authors.affiliation: Hokudai Center for Zoonosis Control in Zambia, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, PO Box 32379, Lusaka, Zambia. hogawa@czc.hokudai.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Hirohito
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ogawa
authors.affiliation: Division of Collaboration and Education, Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Kita 20, Nishi 10, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 001-0020, Japan. inaka@czc.hokudai.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Ichiro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.affiliation: Department of Paraclinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, PO Box 32379, Lusaka, Zambia. ladslavm@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Ladslav
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Moonga
authors.affiliation: Department of Paraclinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, PO Box 32379, Lusaka, Zambia. mudenda68@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Bernard M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Hang'ombe
authors.affiliation: Department of Disease Control, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, PO Box 32379, Lusaka, Zambia. asmweene04@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Aaron S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Mweene
authors.affiliation: Hokudai Center for Zoonosis Control in Zambia, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, PO Box 32379, Lusaka, Zambia. yuka@czc.hokudai.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Yuka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.affiliation: Division of Molecular Pathobiology, Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, N20, W10, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 001-0020, Japan. orbay@czc.hokudai.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Yasuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Orba
authors.affiliation: Division of Molecular Pathobiology, Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, N20, W10, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 001-0020, Japan. h-sawa@czc.hokudai.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Hirofumi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sawa
authors.affiliation: Division of Collaboration and Education, Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Kita 20, Nishi 10, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 001-0020, Japan. sugimoto@czc.hokudai.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Chihiro
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sugimoto
mesh_terms: D041081:Anaplasma phagocytophilum / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000818:Animals; D001403:Babesia / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010215:Papio; D010273:Parasitic Diseases, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D018419:Primate Diseases / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000469:parasitology*; D012281:Rickettsia / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D015024:Zambia / Q000453:epidemiology