Syphilis-like infection spreading among monkeys in Polonnaruwa - officials

By Wasantha Pushpakumara

Colombo, October 3 (Daily Mirror) - A recent research conducted by the Wildlife Department and the animal health authorities has revealed that a bacterial infection caused by sexual contact, similar to syphilis has been spreading among monkeys and macaques in several areas in Polonnaruwa.

Wildlife Veterinary Surgeon in the Eastern Wildlife Zone Dr. Nihal Pushpakumara said several monkeys and macaques who showed the symptoms of syphilis had been traced during the research.

“Laboratory tests of blood samples and PCR tests of several macaques and black monkeys indicated that they had been affected by the virus causing this syphilis-like infection. The infection was visible in genital organs, in the skin and the anus of monkeys and macaques from Polonnaruwa and Giritale areas that underwent the PCR tests and blood tests."

“Monkeys and macaques frequent the places of religious worship visited by pilgrims and anyone who sit on a place where a sick monkey or a macaque had perched and excreted the ooze containing the bacteria could contract the disease” Dr. Pushpakumara further said.

He warned the public to keep away from places frequented by monkeys and macaques to avoid this danger..