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Most emerging infectious diseases of humans are of wildlife origin (7). The close genetic relatedness of humans and nonhuman primates (NHPs) makes each uniquely susceptible to pathogens of the other [...]

The endangered mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei) in Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo is frequently in contact with humans through tourism, research activities, and illegal entry of people into protected gorilla habitat. Herpesviruses, which are ubiquitous in primates, have the potential to be shared in any setting where humans and gorillas share habitat. Based on serological findings and clinical observations of orofacial ulcerated lesions resembling herpetic lesions, an alpha‐herpesvirus resembling human herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV‐1) has long been suspected to be present in human‐habituated mountain gorillas in the wild. While the etiology of orofacial lesions in the wild has not been confirmed, HSV‐1 has been suspected in captively‐housed mountain gorillas and confirmed in a co‐housed confiscated Grauer's gorilla (Gorilla beringei graueri). To better characterize herpesviruses infecting mountain gorillas and to determine the presence/absence of HSV‐1 in the free‐living population, we conducted a population‐wide survey to test for the presence of orally shed herpesviruses. DNA was extracted from discarded chewed plants collected from 294 individuals from 26 groups, and samples were screened by polymerase chain reaction using pan‐herpesvirus and HSV‐1‐specific assays. We found no evidence that human herpesviruses had infected free‐ranging mountain gorillas. However, we found gorilla‐specific homologs to human herpesviruses, including cytomegaloviruses (GbbCMV‐1 and 2), a lymphocryptovirus (GbbLCV‐1), and a new rhadinovirus (GbbRHV‐1) with similar characteristics (i.e., timing of primary infection, shedding in multiple age groups, and potential modes of transmission) to their human counterparts, human cytomegalovirus, Epstein‐Barr virus and Kaposi's sarcoma‐associated herpesvirus, respectively. Research highlights: Discovery of mountain gorilla‐specific homologs to human herpesviruses, including cytomegaloviruses, a lymphocryptovirus, and a rhadinovirus with similar characteristics to their human counterparts.Human herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV‐1) has not entered the wild mountain gorilla population despite frequent contact with humans.Any potential future consideration of reintroduction of captive mountain gorillas should carefully consider the possibiliy of introducing HSV‐1 and other human pathogens to the wild population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infectious diseases have the potential to extirpate populations of great apes. As the interface between humans and great apes expands, zoonoses pose an increasingly severe threat to already endangered great ape populations. Despite recognition of the threat posed by human pathogens to great apes, health monitoring is only conducted for a small fraction of the world's wild great apes (and mostly those that are habituated) meaning that outbreaks of disease often go unrecognized and therefore unmitigated. This lack of surveillance (even in sites where capacity to conduct surveillance is present) is the most significant limiting factor in our ability to quickly detect and respond to emerging infectious diseases in great apes when they first appear. Accordingly, we must create a surveillance system that links disease outbreaks in humans and great apes in time and space, and enables veterinarians, clinicians, conservation managers, national decision makers, and the global health community to respond quickly to these events. Here, we review existing great ape health surveillance programs in African range habitats to identify successes, gaps, and challenges. We use these findings to argue that standardization of surveillance across sites and geographic scales, that monitors primate health in real‐time and generates early warnings of disease outbreaks, is an efficient, low‐cost step to conserve great ape populations. Such a surveillance program, which we call "Great Ape Health Watch" would lead to long‐term improvements in outbreak preparedness, prevention, detection, and response, while generating valuable data for epidemiological research and sustainable conservation planning. Standardized monitoring of great apes would also make it easier to integrate with human surveillance activities. This approach would empower local stakeholders to link wildlife and human health, allowing for near real‐time, bidirectional surveillance at the great ape‐human interface. Highlights: This study reviewed existing great ape health surveillance programs in Africa and Asia to identify successes and challenges, and highlight the need for a standardized approach to great ape health surveillance.We propose "Great Ape Health Watch"—an integrated, real‐time monitoring system for great ape and human health that would generate early warnings of disease outbreaks, as a cost‐efficient strategy to secure future great ape conservation.Integrated ape–human syndromic surveillance would not only provide continuity in outbreak preparedness and data collection, but also empower local stakeholders to link wildlife and human health for impactful conservation and healthcare provisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bacterial diversity in fecal samples of a wild gorilla is described by using a 16S rRNA gene clone library and terminal-restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP). The results have indicated that fecal populations did not change temporarily, as examined by T-RFLP.

Mountain gorillas are particularly inbred compared to other gorillas and even the most inbred human populations. As mountain gorilla skeletal material accumulated during the 1970s, researchers noted their pronounced facial asymmetry and hypothesized that it reflects a population-wide chewing side preference. However, asymmetry has also been linked to environmental and genetic stress in experimental models. Here, we examine facial asymmetry in 114 crania from three Gorilla subspecies using 3D geometric morphometrics. We measure fluctuating asymmetry (FA), defined as random deviations from perfect symmetry, and population-specific patterns of directional asymmetry (DA). Mountain gorillas, with a current population size of about 1000 individuals, have the highest degree of facial FA (explaining 17% of total facial shape variation), followed by Grauer gorillas (9%) and western lowland gorillas (6%), despite the latter experiencing the greatest ecological and dietary variability. DA, while significant in all three taxa, explains relatively less shape variation than FA does. Facial asymmetry correlates neither with tooth wear asymmetry nor increases with age in a mountain gorilla subsample, undermining the hypothesis that facial asymmetry is driven by chewing side preference. An examination of temporal trends shows that stress-induced developmental instability has increased over the last 100 years in these endangered apes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The finding of parasites and bacterial pathogens in mountain gorilla feces and oral lesions in gorilla skeletal remains has not been linked to pathological evidence of morbidity or mortality. In the current study, we conducted a retrospective study of digestive tracts including oral cavity, salivary glands, esophagus, stomach, intestines (gastrointestinal tract [GI]), liver, and pancreas of 60 free‐ranging mountain gorillas from Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo that died between 1985 and 2007. We reviewed clinical histories and gross pathology reports and examined histological sections. On histology, enteritis (58.6%), gastritis (37.3%), and colitis (29.3%) were the commonest lesions in the tracts. Enteritis and colitis were generally mild, and judged likely to have been subclinical. Gastritis was often chronic and proliferative or ulcerative, and associated with nematodiasis. A gastro‐duodenal malignancy (carcinoid) was present in one animal. A number of incidental lesions were identified throughout the tract and cestodes and nematodes were frequently observed grossly and/or histologically. Pigmentation of teeth and tongue were a common finding, but periodontitis and dental attrition were less common than reported from past studies of skeletal remains. Despite observing numerous GI lesions and parasites in this study of deceased free‐living mountain gorillas, we confirmed mortality attributable to gastroenteritis in just 8% (5/60) cases, which is less than that described in captive gorillas. Other deaths attributed to digestive tract lesions included cleft palate in an infant, periodontal disease causing systemic infection in an older adult and gastric cancer. Of all the parasitic infections observed, only hepatic capillariasis and gastric nematodiasis were significantly associated with lesions (hepatitis and gastritis, respectively). Understanding GI lesions in this endangered species is key in the management of morbidity associated with GI ailments. Research Highlights: Oral lesions were less than in previous skeletal studies.Nematodiasis and capillariasis were risks to gastritis and hepatitis, respectively. Cestodes reduced the risk for enteritis.Mortality due to gastrointestinal tract lesions was less than that in captive gorillas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The world's remaining 786 mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) live in 2 parks in Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. An ecotourism industry for viewing human-habituated mountain [...]

A 30‐year‐old free‐ranging female mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei) developed a perioral mass that was surgically debulked and diagnosed as malignant melanoma. After tumor recurrence, a canine melanoma vaccine was administered. However, the gorilla died shortly thereafter, and metastases to lymph nodes, lung, liver, and kidney were found post‐mortem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Between December 2002 and September 2017, 125 anesthetic procedures involving free-living and orphaned captive mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) were performed in the Virunga Massif and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in East-Central Africa. Of these 125 immobilizations, 114 records were complete enough for inclusion into this study. Anesthetic and physiologic data from these 114 cases were analyzed, of which 57 used medetomidine–ketamine and 57 used dexmedetomidine–ketamine administered intramuscularly. With the use of estimated weights, the mean induction dosage (mg/kg ± SD) for medetomidine was 0.033 ± 0.003 (n = 42), for dexmedetomidine 0.018 ± 0.005 (n = 53), and for ketamine 3.66 ± 0.95 (n = 95). Mean time from injection of induction dose to recumbency was 6.8 ± 3.1 min (n = 74). Atipamezole was administered intramuscularly to reverse anesthesia. First signs of recovery occurred at 5.0 ± 4.0 min, and full recovery was 19.0 ± 17.0 min after administration of the reversal agent. No significant differences in physiologic parameters or anesthetic time variables were noted between healthy and unhealthy individuals. Mean heart rate was 72.0 ± 17.6 beats/min (n = 83) and mean oxygen saturation was 96.5% ± 4.2 (n = 62). Mean respiratory rate was 27 ± 9 breaths/min (n = 84) and mean body temperature 36.6°C ± 1.2 (n = 61). The current protocol has several advantages for field use in this species given its quick induction, few observed side effects, and ability to reverse so that the animal can return more quickly to its social group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the roles of Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Program (MGVP), a non-profit veterinary health organization. The main aim of the organization is to minimize the risks and to increase the benefits of the research to the great apes.