Detection and characterisation of respiratory pathogens among habituated, wild living chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) of Täi National Park, Côte d’Ivoire [Elektronische Ressource] / Sophie Köndgen. Betreuer: Roland Lauster

Detection and characterisation of respiratory pathogens among habituated, wild living chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) of Taï National Park, Côte d’Ivoire vorgelegt von Sophie Köndgen Diplom Biologin, geboren in Frankfurt/Main Von der Fakultät III – Prozesswissenschaften der Technischen Universität Berlin zur Erlangung des akademischen Grades Doktor der Naturwissenschaften Dr. rer. nat. Genehmigte Dissertation Promotionsausschuss: Vorsitzender: Prof. Dr. L. Garbe 1. Gutachter: Prof. Dr. R. Lauster 2. Gutachter: Prof. Dr. G. Pauli Tag der wissenschaftlichen Aussprache: 10. Januar 2011 Berlin 2011 D83 I Abstract Respiratory diseases are one of the most important threats to wild great apes habituated to human presence for research or tourism. However, the aetiological agents of such diseases have not been documented so far. Between 1999 and 2006 five distinct respiratory disease outbreaks hit three communities of habituated chimpanzees at our research site in Taï National Park, Côte d’Ivoire. Three of the outbreaks resulted in high morbiditiy and mortality. Necropsies were performed on seven individuals found shortly after death and histopathologic examination revealed the presence of purulent bronchopneumonia. Based on these examinations, the main objective of the present study was to identify and characterise the causative pathogens and determine possible sources of infection.