Does Confirmed Pathogen Transfer between Sanctuary Workers and Great Apes Mean that Reintroduction Should not Occur? |
| |
Authors: | STEVE UNWIN IAN ROBINSON VANESSA SCHMIDT CHRIS COLIN LISA FORD TATYANA HUMLE |
| |
Institution: | 1. Animal Health Centre, Chester Zoo, , Chester, United Kingdom;2. International Fund for Animal Welfare, , Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts;3. School of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, , Neston, United Kingdom;4. Centre de Conservation pour Chimpanzés BP 36 Faranah, République de Guinee;5. Liverpool School of tropical Medicine, , Liverpool, United Kingdom;6. Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, School of Anthropology and Conservation University of Kent Canterbury, , Kent, United Kingdom |
| |
Abstract: | This commentary discusses the findings and conclusions of the paper “Drug resistant human Staphylococcus aureus findings in sanctuary apes and its threat to wild ape populations.” This paper confirms the zoonotic transfer of Staphylococcus aureus in a sanctuary setting. The assertion that this in itself is enough to reconsider the conservation potential of ape reintroduction provides an opportunity to discuss risk analysis of pathogen transmission, following IUCN guidelines, using S. aureus as an example. It is concluded that ape reintroduction projects must have disease risk mitigation strategies that include effective biosecurity protocols and pathogen surveillance. These strategies will assist with creating a well planned and executed reintroduction. This provides one way to enforce habitat protection, to minimise human encroachment and the risks from the illegal wildlife trade. Thus reintroduction must remain a useful tool in the conservation toolbox. Am. J. Primatol. 74:1076‐1083, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. |
| |
Keywords: | risk analysis Staphylococcus aureus reintroduction commentary |
|
|