Abstract
Infectious disease is recognized as the greatest threat to the endangered chimpanzees made famous by the groundbreaking work of Dr. Jane Goodall at Gombe National Park (GNP), Tanzania. The permeable boundary of this small protected area allows for regular wildlife–human and wildlife–domestic animal overlap, which may facilitate cross-species transmission of pathogens and antimicrobial resistance. Few studies have examined the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in wild ape populations. We used molecular techniques to investigate the presence of genes conferring resistance to sulfonamides (often used to treat diarrheal illness in human settings in this region) and tetracycline (used in the past—though much less so now) in fecal specimens from humans, domestic animals, chimpanzees, and baboons in and around GNP. We also tested stream water used by these groups. Sulfonamide resistance was common in humans (74%), non-human primates (43%), and domestic animals (17%). Tetracycline resistance was less common in all groups: humans (14%), non-human primates (3%), and domestic animals (6%). Sul resistance genes were detected from 4/22 (18%) of streams sampled. Differences in sul gene frequencies did not vary by location in humans nor in chimpanzees.
Highlights
Antimicrobial agents have saved millions of lives worldwide, but the global emergence of resistance is compromising their efficacy
Proximity to humans has been associated with a higher prevalence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in some wildlife populations, and exposure to antibiotics from anthropogenic sources affects AMR in the gut bacteria of wild animals [5,6,7,8]
The aim of our research was to quantify the prevalence of resistance genes in human, domestic animal, and non-human primate (NHP) populations in the Greater Gombe
Summary
Antimicrobial agents have saved millions of lives worldwide, but the global emergence of resistance is compromising their efficacy. Antimicrobial usage in both human and domestic animal populations provides selective pressure for the spread of resistance [1,2]. Wildlife are not typically administered antimicrobial drugs but can acquire antimicrobialresistant bacteria through contact or shared resources with humans, domestic animals, and the environment. Proximity to humans has been associated with a higher prevalence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in some wildlife populations, and exposure to antibiotics from anthropogenic sources affects AMR in the gut bacteria of wild animals [5,6,7,8]. Wildlife may serve as sentinels of emerging resistant bacterial pathogens or genes in the environment [6,9,10]
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