k 2023

People, Primates and Parasites: using ethnography in mapping reciprocal influences

SAMBUCCI, Kelly Marie and Paride BOLLETTIN

Basic information

Original name

People, Primates and Parasites: using ethnography in mapping reciprocal influences

Authors

SAMBUCCI, Kelly Marie and Paride BOLLETTIN

Edition

Human-Animal Relations Symposium, Aarhus University, 2023

Other information

Type of outcome

Prezentace na konferencích

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

References:

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Reviewed
Změněno: 2/2/2024 13:23, Kelly Marie Sambucci

Abstract

V originále

Mountain gorillas have been suffering with an increase in cases of so-called chronic wasting syndrome in recent years. Researchers are approaching the environment from complementary perspectives to investigate the parasitic diseases of primates in Bwindi and try to uncover the possible causative pathogen of this chronic wasting. Of particular importance is the relationship with humans who live close to and enter the park where they live. In this presentation we will describe parasites as the link between people and other-than-human primates and participants in human evolution, highlighting their agencies in both phenomena. We will mobilize an ethnographic approach to understand the connections between lifestyle, health conditions, parasites, humans, and other primates. For that we interface with primatology, for looking at human evolution, and molecular biology, for discussing the effects of parasites in humans and other primates. At a molecular level looking at the very building blocks of life, elucidating the species that humans and other-than-humans share and providing evidence of this transmission. From molecular biology to sociocultural anthropology, we are de-centring the human, with the aim to understand human-animal relationships from a third-party organism, the parasites, and how they shape the collective. The goal of this paper is to discuss the usefulness of ethnographic studies to provide recommendations for both conservation management and public health education in Bwindi, Uganda.