A Shigella infection that killed three apes at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens in Florida poses “no threat to the public,” staff members said on Aug. 28. “The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens remains a safe place for all of our visitors,” said Jeff Ettling, the zoo’s president and CEO, while delivering an update on the situation to the press.
The zoo first reported the death of Bulera, a 35-year-old female western lowland gorilla, on Aug. 23. Three days later, the deaths of brother bonobos Jumanji and Jenga were announced.
The source of the infection is unknown, though zoo staff say it may have originated from an asymptomatic ape or, less likely, a staff member. Shigella bacteria cause shigellosis, an infection that mainly affects the intestines and can present symptoms such as diarrhea, fever, and stomach pain, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The bacteria can spread through contact with feces or contaminated food or water.
The treatment process involves administering fluids and antibiotics. While humans can contract the infection, it usually causes mild symptoms that will resolve on their own without antibiotics. For apes, on the other hand, the infection is “highly contagious” and difficult to treat, noted Tracy Fenn, the zoo’s curator of mammals.
Fenn told the press that apes are more susceptible than humans to gastrointestinal infections that can spread to other organs, and underlying health conditions may increase their risk. Bul.