What interaction between genetics and pathogens makes the Ebola virus such a devastating threat to the Western Gorilla, given their shared characteristics with humans?

Answer

Because gorillas share close genetic proximity with humans, they are susceptible to similar pathogens, leading to massive die-offs where intervention is impossible

The Ebola virus represents the single most devastating threat to Western Gorilla populations due to shared biology between gorillas and humans. Because they are genetically very close relatives, gorillas possess immune system pathways that make them highly susceptible to the same potent pathogens that affect humans, such as Ebola. When an outbreak occurs in the remote forest areas where these apes reside, there is virtually no medical infrastructure available to administer aid or intervention. This vulnerability, combined with the difficulty of managing an epidemic in isolated wild populations, leads directly to massive die-offs, severely impacting population numbers already stressed by habitat loss.

What interaction between genetics and pathogens makes the Ebola virus such a devastating threat to the Western Gorilla, given their shared characteristics with humans?

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