Informing primate health management: linking host behavior to disease transmission

• Project/Area Number: 17F17093
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for JSPS Fellows
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 外国
• Research Field: Evolutionary biology
• Research Institution: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: MacIntosh Andrew 京都大学, 霊長類研究所, 准教授 (30623136)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): DUBOSCQ JULIE 京都大学, 霊長類研究所, 外国人特別研究員
• Project Period (FY): 2017-10-13 – 2020-03-31
• Project Status: Granted (Fiscal Year 2018)
• Budget Amount: ¥2,100,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,100,000); Fiscal Year 2018: ¥900,000 (Direct Cost: ¥900,000); Fiscal Year 2017: ¥900,000 (Direct Cost: ¥900,000)
• Keywords: social transmission / simian foamy virus / macaque / strain genetic profile

Outline of Annual Research Achievements

The aim of the research is to foster a better understanding of pathogen transmission in social animals. The study of pathogens expressing enough genetic diversity that different strains can be identified helps tracking transmission characteristics, e.g. simian foamy virus (SFV) and E. coli. Strain genetic profile is then linked to individual social profile: individuals more frequently in contact with each other should share more similar strains than others. The fellow collected data on two groups of two species of socially-housed captive macaques at the PRI. Early analyses show that young macaques seem not infected by SFV before reaching 2 yo. Strain sharing within a dyad seems related to similarity in age and to grooming frequency, indicating horizontal or oblique transmission.

Current Status of Research Progress

3: Progress in research has been slightly delayed.

Reason

This project is a development of a previous study conducted at PRI with the same host and collaborators so its feasibility was assessed as high. Unfortunately, several issues impeded significant progress: 1/ whole-group sampling of saliva, necessary to get virus genetic material, from the socially-housed captive groups where behavioral observation was also conducted did not take place in fall 2017. Only a limited number of monkeys have been re-sampled this year; 2/ virus genetic profiling turned out to be efficient and specific only for Japanese macaques, not for Rhesus macaques, so molecular analyses have stalled; 3/ The fellow became pregnant, which prevented some types of lab work, again slowing down progress.

Strategy for Future Research Activity

The major activities in 2018 were planned as 1/ behavioural observations, 2/ DNA/RNA extraction, genotyping and sequencing and 3/ analysis of these data together. The end of the year was to be devoted to another saliva sampling during the annual health check. The plan was also to participate in an international conference to present this work. Major costs should have concerned consumables and travels.

This plan is postponed as I will be on maternity leave from June 26th until spring next year. In the meantime, the fellow is analysing the data already collected and supervising student projects on related topics.

Research Products

• [Journal Article] The influence of phylogeny, social style, and sociodemographic factors on macaque social network structure. (2018)
  • Author(s): Balasubramaniam, K. N., Beisner, B. A., Berman, C. M., de Marco, A., Duboscq, J., Koirala, S., Majolo, B., MacIntosh, A. J. J., McFarland, R., Molesti, S., Ogawa, H., Petit, O., Schino, G., Sosa, S., Sueur, C., Thierry, B., de Waal, F. B. M, & McCowan, B. J.
  • Journal Title: American Journal of Primatology Volume: 80(1) Issue: 1
  • DOI: 10.1002/ajp.22727
  • Peer Reviewed / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Diffusion Studies (2017)
  • Author(s): Duboscq Julie
  • Journal Title: Encyclopedia of Animal Cognition and Behavior Volume: na Pages: 1-6
  • DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-47829-6_1593-1
  • ISBN: 9783319478296
  • Peer Reviewed / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] One step at a time in investigating relationships between self-directed behaviours and parasitological, social and environmental variables (2017)
  • Author(s): Duboscq Julie、Romano Val?ria、Sueur C?dric、MacIntosh Andrew J. J.
  • Journal Title: Royal Society Open Science Volume: 4 Issue: 8 Pages: 170461-170461
  • DOI: 10.1098/rsos.170461
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Connecting the dots: linking host behaviour to parasite transmission and infection risk (2017)
  • Author(s): Duboscq J. & MacIntosh A.
  • Organizer: 7th meeting of the European Federation for Primatology
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] What happens next? Using relational event modelling to investigate temporal social dynamics in macaques (2017)
  • Author(s): Duboscq, J.
  • Organizer: 11th meeting of the Gottinger Freilandtage
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Infection patterns of simian foamy virus in macaques (2017)
  • Author(s): Duboscq, J., Okamoto, M., & MacIntosh, A.
  • Organizer: 7th meeting of the European Federation for Primatology
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Infection patterns of simian foamy virus in macaques (2017)
  • Author(s): Duboscq, J., Okamoto, M., & MacIntosh
  • Organizer: Meeting of the French Society of the Study of Animal Behaviour
  • Int'l Joint Research