Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Macaque-to-human transmission
Transmission of respiratory and oral/fecal pathogens can occur both from
humans to macaques and from macaques to humans. As a result, implemen-
tation of the above recommendations for reducing the likelihood of human-
to-macaque disease transmission will also decrease the chance that humans
become infected with respiratory and oral/fecal pathogens present in the
macaque population. Transmission of a
parenterally
(i.e., taken into the body
in a manner other than through the digestive or respiratory tract) transmit-
ted simian virus to a human has been modeled mathematically (Engel
et al
.,
2006
) for visitors to a monkey temple in Bali, employing the assumption that
macaque bites were the mode of viral transmission. The analysis suggested
that wound washing can significantly reduce the likelihood of a person becom-
ing infected as a result of a macaque bite. Therefore, increasing the awareness
of the importance of, and certainly the availability of, prompt and thorough
wound cleansing following a macaque bite would likely decrease the risk of an
individual becoming infected with parenterally transmitted viruses.
Management considerations of health risks in specific contexts
The frequency and dynamics of interspecies contact vary by context and popu-
lation. Specific sites have unique features or combinations of features, making
it difficult to generalize about interspecies contact and disease risk. Local cul-
ture, history, socioeconomic, and other factors contribute to patterns of inter-
species interaction and, consequently, disease transmission. However, we will
venture a few generalizations.
Urban macaques typically are restricted to specific ranges within cities, often
centered on parks, temples, or green belts. People who live, or work, or travel
within these ranges can come into contact with macaques, and, over a lifetime,
the likelihood of some kind of contact is additive. Some individuals deliber-
ately seek out contact with macaques, for religious reasons, or personal inclin-
ation. Targeting these individuals for education about the risks of interspecies
transmission (i.e., both
from
and
to
macaques) is one strategy for decreasing
risk of macaque-to-human transmission of infection.
Monkey temples are religious sites that, over time, have become associated
with groups of free-ranging monkeys, most often macaques. They are preva-
lent in Southeast Asia, where some have become major tourist destinations,
drawing a minimum of 100,000 visitors per year (Fuentes and Gamerl,
2005
).
From the standpoint of human health, temples are significant because they bring
