Forest fragmentation as cause of bacterial transmission among nonhuman primates, humans, and livestock, Uganda.

ABSTRACT: We conducted a prospective study of bacterial transmission among humans, nonhuman primates (primates hereafter), and livestock in western Uganda. Humans living near forest fragments harbored Escherichia coli bacteria that were approximately 75% more similar to bacteria from primates in those fragments than to bacteria from primates in nearby undisturbed forests. Genetic similarity between human/livestock and primate bacteria increased approximately 3-fold as anthropogenic disturbance within forest fragments increased from moderate to high. Bacteria harbored by humans and livestock were approximately twice as similar to those of red-tailed guenons, which habitually enter human settlements to raid crops, than to bacteria of other primate species. Tending livestock, experiencing gastrointesti

SUBMITTER: Goldberg TL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2603117 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature