Mariko Fujimoto

Chimpanzee deaths at Mahale caused by a flu-like disease

A flu-like disease spread among chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) of the M group at Mahale Mountains National Park, Tanzania, from June to July 2006. This epizootic or epidemic killed up to 12 chimpanzees. The obvious evidence of their deaths came from finding the bodies of three infants who had previously shown some symptoms of the disease. At least one of these infants died of pneumonia. In addition, nine chimpanzees were missing after the outbreak. These individuals were assumed to have been killed by this epizootic because most of them had contact with the infected individuals on the last days they were observed. We also found two dead bodies during this period, which were thought to be those of two missing individuals. We confirmed 23 (35.4%) of 65 individuals of the M group showed some symptoms of the disease, although most of them (20/23) did not die. More than half of them (14/23) had kin showing symptoms. Since this epizootic may have been caused by contact with humans, it will be necessary to establish and follow appropriate protocols for researchers, tourists, and park staff to observe chimpanzees, and to explore the mechanism of disease transmission from humans to chimpanzees and among chimpanzees.

Detection of antiendometrial antibodies in patients with endometriosis by cell ELISA

PROBLEM: To determine whether infertile patients with endometriosis have serum antiendometrial antibodies.

Responses of Wild Chimpanzees to Fresh Carcasses of Aardvark (Orycteropus afer) in Mahale

meaning that human observers were also there on a regular basis. Second, because Psydrax trees are relatively short with sparse canopies, it was easy for the observer to notice the dead body. We may not have been able to notice the remains if a higher and denser-canopied tree were involved or in a place less frequented by the chimpanzees. In such cases, we cannot solve the disappearances of infants. This dilemma poses the distinct possibility that arboreal deaths may be more common than we know. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We would like to thank COSTECH, TAWIRI, and TANAPA for their permission to conduct long-term research at Mahale. Demography, female life history, and reproductive profiles among the chimpanzees of Mahale. 2008. Arboreal nesting as anti-predator adaptation by savanna chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) in southeastern Senegal. Am J Primatol 70:393–401. Stewart FA, Pruetz JD 2013. Do chimpanzee nests serve an anti-predatory function? Am J Primatol 75:593–604. Takemoto H 2004. Seasonal change in terrestriality of chimpanzees in relation to microclimate in the tropical forest. A case report about the death accident of captive chimpanzee infant. Primate Res 10:321–331, in Japanese with English summary.