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Deadly Bacteria Discovered in Chimps Linked to Human Illness
The finding could help save chimpanzees and shed light on similar bacteria that infect people
Scientists have discovered what they believe is a new species of bacteria causing infections that have been highly fatal in chimpanzees. The discoverers do not see it as an immediate threat to humans. But the bacterium, tentatively named Sarcina troglodytae, is in the genus Sarcina, which includes other bacteria known to cause similar illness and sometimes death in people.
The discovery, detailed February 3 in the journal Nature Communications, suggests more research is needed to understand the various species of Sarcina bacteria and their potential threats to people, the researchers say.
Because chimpanzees share 99% of our DNA, there’s often a high risk of “zoonotic transmission” between them and us. But the risk that this specific species of bacteria will hop to humans is about a 3 on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being “aoogah!,” says study team member Tony Goldberg, PhD, a professor of epidemiology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
The study was led by Leah Owens, a veterinary medical and doctoral student in Goldberg’s lab.
