Spatial and Temporal Dynamics of a Mortality Event among Central African Great Apes

A significant mortality event among great apes in the Forest Massif of Odzala-Kokoua, Republic of Congo, likely due to a disease outbreak, was linked to ecological and human impact factors. Researchers analyzed 17,383 ape nests (2007-2011) using spatial modeling to identify the outbreak's origin in western Odzala-Kokoua, north of previous Ebola epizootics. Roads were found to attenuate disease spread, suggesting their potential role in mitigating transmission. The study highlights critical variables for great ape disease ecology, offering insights for wildlife management and zoonotic risk reduction.

Cameron, K. N., Reed, P., Morgan, D. B., Ondzié, A. I., Sanz, C. M., Kühl, H. S., Olson, S. H., Leroy, E., Karesh, W. B., & Mundry, R. (2016). Spatial and Temporal Dynamics of a Mortality Event among Central African Great Apes. Plos One, 11(5), e0154505. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0154505