Leprosy in wild chimpanzees

A groundbreaking discovery reveals that leprosy, typically associated with humans, also affects wild chimpanzees in Taï National Park and Cantanhez National Park. The study identified Mycobacterium leprae, the causative agent of leprosy, in faecal and necropsy samples from two western chimpanzee populations (Pan troglodytes verus), confirming advanced disease symptoms. Phylogenomic analysis showed that these strains belong to rare genotypes (4N/O and 2F), distinct from human or other known animal strains, suggesting potential circulation of M. leprae in wild animals due to human exposure or unknown environmental sources. Longitudinal monitoring provided critical evidence of disease progression, highlighting the need for further investigation into leprosy's ecological impact on wildlife.

Hockings, K. J., Mubemba, B., Avanzi, C., Pleh, K., Düx, A., Bersacola, E., Bessa, J., Ramon, M., Metzger, S., Patrono, L. V., Jaffe, J. E., Benjak, A., Bonneaud, C., Busso, P., Couacy-Hymann, E., Gado, M., Gagneux, S., Johnson, R. C., Kodio, M., et al. (2021). Leprosy in wild chimpanzees. Nature, 598(7882), 652–656. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-03968-4