Pneumonia, tuberculosis and yellow fever: our pathogens are killing primates. Diseases are already considered one of the main threats to the conservation of these animals.

In 2018, a literature review documented 33 probable or confirmed cases of pathogen transmission from humans to great apes. Habitat destruction has brought us closer to wildlife, also affecting our microorganisms. There are even wild chimpanzees with bacteria resistant to antibiotics, a study has found.. Humans are the natural host of the natural bacteria that causes this disease, called Myobacterium tuberculosis. It is unknown to what extent tuberculosis may be affecting populations.