eng Science and Education Publishing American Journal of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology 2328-4064 2018-03-23 6 1 30 37 10.12691/ajidm-6-1-5 AJIDM2018615 article Senelwa Davis Lugano 1 Kimang'a Andrew Nyerere 1 Waititu Kenneth Kariuki 1 2 Kariuki Samuel 3 Kamau Joseph 4 5 Obiero Jael Apondi jaelobiero@gmail.com 5 5 Department of Medical Microbiology, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi, Kenya Center for Microbiology Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya Department of Reproductive Health and Biology, Institute of Primate Research, Nairobi, Kenya Background: Vertebrate gut microbiota plays essential roles in host biology, including immune regulation, energy acquisition, vitamin synthesis and disease risk. There are however several other pathogenic microorganisms found in the gut and are transmissible by fecal oral route. About 60% of all human diseases and approximately 75% of emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic. Due to an observed increase in conflicts and interactions between human and nonhuman primates, both are at risk of pathogen transfer and infection. Methods: This study was conducted on 50 captive baboons and 67 wild baboons. Stool samples were collected and cultured and species identification of each isolate was done by the use of Analytical Profile Indexing tool. Results: Species of Gram-positive cocci, Gram-positive and Gram-negative rods were identified, with more isolates being obtained from wild than captive baboon fecal samples. Unlike the Gram-negative rods, the captive baboons harbored more Gram-positive cocci and Gram-positive rods than the wild baboons. Escherichia coli was the most dominant isolate and was collected in more than 50% of the samples from both groups of animals. Of the Gram-positive cocci and Gram-positive rods, Aerococcus viridans, Bacillus cereus and Bacillus firmus were found to be the most common isolates in both groups of animals. Conclusion: Though the wild and captive baboons harbor different gastrointestinal bacteria, similarities do occur. The wild baboons have a richer microbial diversity as compared to the captive baboons. http://pubs.sciepub.com/ajidm/6/1/5/ajidm-6-1-5.pdf gastrointestinal microbes emerging infectious diseases nonhuman primates zoonotic