Characterize parasite communities in great apes and driving factors of a fatal chronic wasting syndrome affecting critically endangered mountain gorillas and endangered eastern chimpanzees in bwindi…

The Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Region 9 Headquarters awarded a $358,033 Project Grant to Mgvp Inc. under the Great Apes Conservation Fund program (CFDA 15.629) from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2025.

The grant will support characterizing parasite communities in gorillas and chimpanzees in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda to determine parasite diversity and infection burdens. The project will also detect possible zoonotic parasite reservoirs affecting wildlife, evaluate the role of strongylid parasites in chronic wasting syndrome, and investigate forces driving zoonotic parasite transmission in great apes. Additionally, the grant will increase disease surveillance capacity and raise local community awareness of pathogen transmission risks. The work focuses on effective long-term conservation of great apes and their habitats, as outlined under the Great Apes Conservation Fund program.

Characterize parasite communities in great apes and driving factors of a fatal chronic wasting syndrome affecting critically endangered mountain gorillas and endangered eastern chimpanzees in bwindi impenetrable national park, uganda by 1 determining the parasite diversity and infection burden in the park s great apes 2 detecting possible reservoirs of zoonotic parasites affecting the park s wildlife 3 evaluating the role of strongylid parasites in the clinical syndrome 4 investigating forces driving zoonotic parasite infections in great apes 5 increasing the capacity of the disease surveillance system and 6 increasing local communities awareness of pathogen transmission risks