Primate Parasite Ecology: The Dynamics and Study of Host-Parasite Relationships

Anyone who has spent an extended period in the tropics has an idea, through caring for others or first-hand experience, just what it is like to be a primate parasite host. Monkeys and apes often share parasites with humans, for example the HIV viruses which evolved from related viruses of chimpanzees and sooty mangabeys, and so understanding the ecology of infectious diseases in non-human primates is of paramount importance. Furthermore, there is accumulating evidence that environmental change may promote contact between humans and non-human primates and increase the possibility of sharing infectious disease. Written for academic researchers, this book addresses these issues and provides up-to-date information on the methods of study, natural history and ecology/theory of the exciting field of primate parasite ecology.

Anyone who has spent an extended period in the tropics has an idea, through caring for others or first-hand experience, just what it is like to be a primate parasite host. Monkeys and apes often share parasites with humans, for example the HIV viruses which evolved from related viruses of chimpanzees and sooty mangabeys, and so understanding the ecology of infectious diseases in non-human primates is of paramount importance. Furthermore, there is accumulating evidence that environmental change may promote contact between humans and non-human primates and increase the possibility of sharing infectious disease. Written for graduate students and academic researchers, this book addresses these issues and provides up-to-date information on the methods of study, natural history and ecology/theory of the exciting field of primate parasite ecology.

Michael Huffman is an Associate Professor, and the first North American tenured faculty member, at Kyoto University's Primate Research Institute. He is currently an editor for the American Journal of Primatology, and has been the PI of several multi-disciplinary international collaborations spanning over 15 countries.

Colin Chapman is a Professor in the Department of Anthropology and McGill School of Environment at McGill University. He has been an associate scientist with the Wildlife Conservation Society since 1995 and for the last 17 years has conducted research in the Kibale National Park, Uganda.