An Introduction to Primate Conservation
Infectious disease and primate conservation
Nunn, CL; Gillespie, TR
Infectious disease is an important factor that may contribute to primate population declines. In addition, as primate species are lost, the parasitic organisms that coevolved with them are also lost. This chapter considers these and other links between infectious disease and primate conservation. It begins by considering the broader context of how parasites might influence conservation goals more generally, with some examples from non-primate taxa. These examples are used to better understand the links between infectious disease and primate conservation, focusing on case studies involving Ebola, yellow fever, respiratory infections, and environmentally transmitted infections. How biodiversity itself may influence disease risk for both wildlife and humans is also considered, and how parasites may contribute to the generation of biodiversity and to the resilience and vigour of ecological communities. The chapter ends with practical considerations, including ways to limit the spillover of disease from humans and domesticated animals to wild primates.