Fecal microbial diversity and putative function in captive western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla), common chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes), Hamadryas baboons (Papio hamadryas) and binturongs (Arctictis binturong).

Microbial populations in the gastrointestinal tract contribute to host health and nutrition. Although gut microbial ecology is well studied in livestock and domestic animals, little is known of the endogenous populations inhabiting primates or carnivora. We characterized microbial populations in fecal cultures from gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla), common chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes), Hamadryas baboons (Papio hamadryas) and binturongs (Arctictis binturong) to compare the microbiomes associated with different gastrointestinal morphologies and different omnivorous feeding strategies. Each species was fed a distinct standardized diet for 2 weeks prior to fecal collection. All diets were formulated to reflect the species' feeding strategies in situ. Fresh fecal samples were pooled within species and used to inoculate in vitro batch cultures. Acetate, propionate, butyrate and valerate were measured after 24 h of incubation. Eubacterial DNA was extracted from individual fecal samples, pooled, and the cpn60 gene region was amplified and then sequenced to identify the major eubacterial constituents associated with each host species. Short chain fatty acids (P < 0.001) and methane (P < 0.001) were significantly different across species. Eubacterial profiles were consistent with fermentation data and suggest an increase in diversity with dietary fiber.

Association between Papio hamadryas populations and human gastrointestinal infectious diseases in southwestern Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Papio hamadryas baboons, known reservoirs of several infectious diseases, roam and deposit their excreta indiscriminately on footpaths, parks, and streets of the city peripheries of Taif, Baha, and Abha in southwestern Saudi Arabia. Nonetheless, city centers of these places are free of baboons. This study aims to determine the impact of baboons on human gastrointestinal health. DESIGN AND SETTINGS: This is a descriptive cross-sectional analytical ecological study conducted in 3 cities located in southwestern Saudi Arabia between July 2011 and July 2012. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We investigated the impact of these baboons on the human health through a coprological survey of infectious agents of baboons and humans in these 3 cities using macroscopic and micro.scopic analyses, before and after parasite concentration, and culturing of bacteria on selective and differential media, which were then identified by 16S rDNA gene sequencing. Baboon fecal samples (n=823) were collected from city peripheries. Two groups of human fecal samples, each consisting of 795 samples were collected, one from city centers and the second from city peripheries where baboons intermingle with the human population. RESULTS: Baboon fecal samples were the most contaminated with infectious agents, except for Staphylococcus aureus, which was more commonly present in human fecal samples collected from city peripheries. Human fecal samples collected form city peripheries showed higher rates of most infective agents than those collected from city centers. CONCLUSION: This indicates that baboons are medically important reservoirs of infectious agents associated with higher human coproprevalence of gastrointestinal infectious agents.

Differences between the normal vaginal bacterial community of baboons and that of humans.

Humans and baboons (Papio spp.) share considerable anatomical and physiological similarities in their reproductive tracts. Given the similarities, it is reasonable to expect that the normal vaginal microbial composition (microbiota) of baboons would be similar to that of humans. We have used a 16S rRNA phylogenetic approach to assess the composition of the baboon vaginal microbiota in a set of nine animals from a captive facility and six from the wild. Results show that although Gram-positive bacteria dominate in baboons as they do in humans, there are major differences between the vaginal microbiota of baboons and that of humans. In contrast to humans, the species of Gram-positive bacteria (Firmicutes) were taxa other than Lactobacillus species. In addition, some groups of Gram-negative bacteria that are not normally abundant in humans were found in the baboon samples. A further level of difference was also seen even within the same bacterial phylogenetic group, as baboon strains tended to be more phylogenetically distinct from human strains than human strains were with each other. Finally, results of our analysis suggests that co-evolution of microbes and their hosts cannot account for the major differences between the microbiota of baboons and that of humans because divergences between the major bacterial genera were too ancient to have occurred since primates evolved. Instead, the primate vaginal tracts appear to have acquired discrete subsets of bacteria from the vast diversity of bacteria available in the environment and established a community responsive to and compatible with host species physiology.

Baboon vaginal microbiota: an overlooked aspect of primate physiology.

The bacterial population of the primate vaginal canal is an infant primate's first exposure to the microbial population inhabiting the outside world. Yet, little is known about this population and the effect it might have on the development and survival of the infant primate. As a first step toward characterizing the vaginal microbiota of a nonhuman primate, we used denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis to evaluate variations in the vaginal microbiota of a group of 35 baboons (Papio hamadryas), which were housed in a facility where they shared the same diet and the same environmental conditions. We found that, despite the uniform environment, there were appreciable differences in the composition of the microbiota from one individual to another. Our results also indicate that a simple swab test is sufficient for sampling the vaginal microbiota in the field, a finding that should help make more detailed characterization of the microbiota of wild primates feasible in the future.

Microbial community analysis of rectal methanogens and sulfate reducing bacteria in two non-human primate species.

BACKGROUND: Methanogenesis by methanogenic Archaea and sulfate reduction by sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) are the major hydrogenotrophic pathways in the human colon. Methanogenic status of mammals is suggested to be under evolutionary rather than dietary control. However, information is lacking regarding the dynamics of hydrogenotrophic microbial communities among different primate species. METHODS: Rectal swabs were collected from 10 sooty mangabeys (Cercocebus atys) and 10 baboons (Papio hamadryas). The diversity and abundance of methanogens and SRB were examined using PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR). RESULTS: The DGGE results revealed that intestinal Archaea and SRB communities differ between mangabeys and baboons. Phylogenetic analyses of Archaea DGGE bands revealed two distinct clusters with one representing a putative novel order of methanogenic Archaea. The qPCR detected a similar abundance of methanogens and SRB. CONCLUSIONS: Intestinal Archaea and SRB coexist in these primates, and the community patterns are host species-specific.

[Campylobacter in the etiology of acute intestinal infections in primates].

The subjects of the study were 1,249 primates of different species, kept in a nursery in the city of Adler. The subjects varied in age, were either clinically healthy, diseased, or dead (the death had been caused by an acute intestinal disease). Biological, molecular-genetic (PCR), and immunological (coagglutination reaction) methods were used in diagnostics of campilobacter infections. The study found campilobacter in 20.9% of healthy animals on the average; this number varied depending on the species and age. The frequency of campilobacter infection in diseased and dead animals was higher than that in healthy ones (40.1% and 20.9%, respectively.) Two types of Campilobacter were identified: C. jejuni (73.4% of cases), and C. coli (14.2%). Clinical and pathomorphological manifestations of campilobacteriosis in primates and humans are similar. The portion of campilobacteriosis in acute intestinal diseases of primates is 40.1%.