![]() ![]() Although initial infection was most probably incidental and of human origin, secondary animal hosts can subsequently represent a source of infection to humans 15, 16, 17, 18. However, they can circulate in other animal hosts in the wild, such as nine-banded armadillos ( Dasypus novemcinctus) in the Americas and red squirrels ( Sciurus vulgaris) in the UK 2, 3. Leprosy-causing bacteria were once thought to be obligate human pathogens 1. The role of other routes, such as skin-to-skin contact, is unknown. ![]() Transmission is thought to occur primarily between individuals with prolonged and close contact via aerosolized nasal secretions and entry through nasal or respiratory mucosae, but the exact mechanism remains unclear 13, 14. Although leprosy prevalence has markedly decreased over recent decades, approximately 210,000 new human cases are still reported every year, of which 2.3% are located in West Africa 12. As a result of sensory loss, leprosy can lead to permanent damage and severe deformity 11. Symptoms develop after a long incubation period ranging from several months to 30 years, averaging 5 years in humans. In humans, the disease presents as a continuum of clinical manifestations with skin and nerve lesions of increasing severity, from the mildest tuberculoid form (or paucibacillary) to the most severe lepromatous type (or multibacillary) 10. leprae and the more recently discovered Mycobacterium lepromatosis 8, 9. Leprosy is a neglected tropical disease caused by the bacterial pathogens M. These findings suggest that M. leprae may be circulating in more wild animals than suspected, either as a result of exposure to humans or other unknown environmental sources. ![]() ![]() Screening of faecal and necropsy samples confirmed the presence of M. leprae as the causative agent at each site and phylogenomic comparisons with other strains from humans and other animals show that the chimpanzee strains belong to different and rare genotypes (4N/O and 2F). Longitudinal monitoring of both populations revealed the progression of disease symptoms compatible with advanced leprosy. Here we describe leprosy-like lesions in two wild populations of western chimpanzees ( Pan troglodytes verus) in Cantanhez National Park, Guinea-Bissau and Taï National Park, Côte d’Ivoire, West Africa. Although naturally acquired leprosy has also been described in captive nonhuman primates 4, 5, 6, 7, the exact origins of infection remain unclear. Humans are considered as the main host for Mycobacterium leprae 1, the aetiological agent of leprosy, but spillover has occurred to other mammals that are now maintenance hosts, such as nine-banded armadillos and red squirrels 2, 3. Nature volume 598, pages 652–656 ( 2021) Cite this article ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |