The SHAPES-Captivity study seeks to identify metagenomic components of the intestinal microbiome shared by human beings and captive great apes living in proximity and in direct, daily contact. The investigators will determine the phylogenetic diversity of enterotypes (bacterial and viral) shared between human beings and great apes and will link these results with participant-observations of caretakers' activities (and contacts) with these great apes.
The SHAPES-Captivity study seeks to identify metagenomic components of the intestinal microbiome shared by human beings and captive great apes living in proximity and in direct, daily contact. The SHAPES-Captivity is an extension of the SHAPES study (financed by the ANR in 2014), currently ongoing in central Africa (Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Gabon). In Cameroon, the investigators have collected stool samples from gorillas, chimpanzees and human beings using the same forest space so as to conduct an analysis of the overlap of their intestinal microbiome. The results of this analysis will be interpreted in light of anthropological and geographical evidence collected among people living in this region. SHAPES-Captivity will enable the investigators to use the same approach but this time, under conditions of great ape captivity. The investigators will thus obtain data concerning intestinal microbiome overlap between captive great apes and human caretakers working in a controlled environment and in daily, direct contact. The SHAPES-Captivity study will provide a positive control, which will eventually be compared to results from the SHAPES study. Although multiple studies have investigated the overlap between human-great ape intestinal microbiome (Moeller et al. 2012 ; Moeller et al. 2016), none of these studies have investigated people living in close proximity to great apes, either in a natural or captive setting. The investigators will determine the phylogenetic diversity of enterotypes (bacterial and viral) shared between human beings and great apes, and will link these results with their participant-observations of caretakers' activities (and contacts) with these great apes.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
14
One sample collection of spontaneously produced fresh stool (of an approximate size of 3 green beans). Data collection with self-administered questionnaire
Institut Pasteur
Paris, France
Microbiome comparison
The investigators will evaluate the components of the intestinal microbiome (viral and bacterial enterotypes) shared by human caretakers and captive great apes living in proximity on a daily basis. The percentage of overlap (of viral and bacterial families) between human subjects and great apes will be measured.
Time frame: Three years (September 2017-September 2020)
Contact type investigation
The investigators will evaluate the type of physical contact between caretakers and great apes in captivity through participant-observations. This outcome will be measured through identified categories of physical contact.
Time frame: Three years (September 2017-September 2020)
Contact frequency investigation
The investigators will evaluate the frequency of physical contact between caretakers and great apes in captivity through participant-observations. This outcome will be measured by the number per category of physical contact.
Time frame: Three years (September 2017-September 2020)
Contact duration investigation
The investigators will evaluate the duration of physical contact between caretakers and great apes in captivity through participant-observations. This outcome will be measured by the duration (time) per individual contact.
Time frame: Three years (September 2017-September 2020)
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