For the first time, leprosy cases have been identified in wild chimpanzees, according to a new study published in the journal Nature.
Leprosy cases in chimpanzees have been found in Guinea-Bissau and Côte d’Ivoire, making this the first time such cases have been found in a non-human species in Africa, according to researchers in the study published last Wednesday, 13.
+ Gene discovered in monkeys may work as an antiviral for HIV and Ebola
Leprosy is an infectious disease that can seriously damage the nerves, skin and respiratory tract of human beings. It can lead to the development of lesions and nodules, as well as loss of sensation in the extremities and blindness.
Scientists used camera traps to study chimpanzee behavior between 2015 and 2019. Looking at the images, researchers found two men and two women with “serious leprosy-like lesions,” according to the study. The symptoms – similar to those experienced by humans – progressed over time.
So far it is not known exactly how the chimpanzees became infected, but it is believed to have occurred as a result of exposure to humans or “other unknown environmental sources,” according to the study.
Leprosy has been seen in wild animals before, such as red squirrels in the UK and armadillos in the Americas.
Kimberley Hockings, Senior Lecturer in Science, told CNN that more research will be conducted on how wild chimpanzees came into contact with the disease and what this means for a species that is already at risk from factors such as hunting and habitat loss. .
“The treatment of leprosy in humans is relatively simple, especially if it is diagnosed early,” said Hockings.
Hockings said he will incorporate the finding into his broader research, which focuses on interactions between humans and great apes, as humans are traditionally considered the main host of leprosy, and now it is suddenly appearing in wild chimpanzees.
See too
+ Until 2019, there were more people in prisons than on the Brazilian stock exchange
+ Aloe gel in the drink: see the benefits
+ Lemon-squeezing trick becomes a craze on social media
+ Chef playmate creates aphrodisiac recipe for Orgasm Day
+ Mercedes-Benz Sprinter wins motorhome version
+ Anorexia, an eating disorder that can lead to death
+ US agency warns: never wash raw chicken meat
+ Yasmin Brunet breaks the silence
+ Shark is captured in MA with the remains of youngsters missing in the stomach
+ See how much it costs to eat at the MasterChef judges’ restaurants
+ Auction of cars and motorcycles from Kombi to Nissan Frontier 0km