title: Intestinal Helminths of Wild Bonobos in Forest-Savanna Mosaic: Risk Assessment of Cross-Species Transmission with Local People in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
abstract: Phylogenetic and geographic proximities between humans and apes pose a risk of zoonotic transmission of pathogens. Bonobos (Pan paniscus) of the Bolobo Territory, Democratic Republic of the Congo, live in a fragmented forest-savanna mosaic setting, a marginal habitat for this species used to living in dense forests. Human activities in the forest have increased the risk of contacts between humans and bonobos. Over 21 months (September 2010-October 2013), we monitored intestinal parasites in bonobo (n = 273) and in human (n = 79) fecal samples to acquire data on bonobo parasitology and to assess the risk of intestinal helminth transmission between these hosts. Coproscopy, DNA amplification, and sequencing of stored dried feces and larvae were performed to identify helminths. Little difference was observed in intestinal parasites of bonobos in this dryer habitat compared to those living in dense forests. Although Strongylids, Enterobius sp., and Capillaria sp. were found in both humans and bonobos, the species were different between the hosts according to egg size or molecular data. Thus, no evidence of helminth transmission between humans and bonobos was found. However, because humans and this threatened species share the same habitat, it is essential to continue to monitor this risk.
authors.affiliation: Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, UMR7206 (MNHN-CNRS-Paris7) Eco-anthropologie et ethnobiologie, Site du Musée de l'Homme, 17 place du Trocadéro, 75016, Paris, France. vnarat@mnhn.fr.
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Narat
authors.affiliation: Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Parasitology department, Dynamyc research group, 7 avenue du Général De Gaulle, 94700, Maisons-Alfort, France.
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guillot
authors.affiliation: Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, UMR7206 (MNHN-CNRS-Paris7) Eco-anthropologie et ethnobiologie, Site du Musée de l'Homme, 17 place du Trocadéro, 75016, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Flora
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pennec
authors.affiliation: Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, UMR7206 (MNHN-CNRS-Paris7) Eco-anthropologie et ethnobiologie, Site du Musée de l'Homme, 17 place du Trocadéro, 75016, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lafosse
authors.affiliation: Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, UMR7206 (MNHN-CNRS-Paris7) Eco-anthropologie et ethnobiologie, CP135, 57 rue Cuvier, 75231, Paris Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Anne Charlotte
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Grüner
authors.affiliation: Centre national de la recherche scientifique, UMR7206 (MNHN-CNRS-Paris7) Eco-anthropologie et ethnobiologie, CP135, 57 rue Cuvier, 75231, Paris Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Simmen
authors.affiliation: NGO Mbou-Mon-Tour, Nkala, Territoire de Bolobo, Province du Bandundu, Democratic Republic of Congo.
authors.forename: Jean Christophe
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Bokika Ngawolo
authors.affiliation: Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, UMR7206 (MNHN-CNRS-Paris7) Eco-anthropologie et ethnobiologie, Site du Musée de l'Homme, 17 place du Trocadéro, 75016, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Krief
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild / Q000469:parasitology*; D015023:Democratic Republic of the Congo / Q000453:epidemiology; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology*; D005260:Female; D065928:Forests; D065948:Grassland; D006376:Helminths / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans / Q000469:parasitology; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000635:transmission*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019974:Pan paniscus / Q000469:parasitology*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*
keywords: DRC; bonobos; intestinal helminths; parasitology; zoonosis