What type of ELISA would you recommend using to determine if the lem.pdf
- 1. What type of ELISA would you recommend using to determine if the lemurs have a disease and why? Post-Lab Assessment Ruffed lemurs found in the eastern rainforests of Madagascar typically live arboreally, in the crowns of large trees, with most of their time spent 15 to 25 meters (50-80 feet) above the forest floor. Their diet comprises mainly of fruit, flowers, and young leaves accessible year round. Prized for their meat and fur, ruffed lemurs have been hunted nearly to extinction. Many residents of Madagascar find a large portion of the protein in their diet from animals hunted in the rainforest. Called bushmeat, this form of protein can be a valuable dietary resource to people without access to other food. However, many wild animals carry diseases that can be transmitted through their blood to humans who are processing the meat for consumption. For example, the Ebola epidemic of 2014 likely began with the transmission of the virus from a fruit bat to humans in Guinea. In addition to hunting, ruffed lemurs also suffer from habitat loss due to deforestation, climate changes, and urban development. Because of these threats, the ruffed lemur became critically endangered in 2008 meaning the species faces a very high risk of extinction. Fortunately ruffed lemurs reproduce easily in captivity so they make an excellent species for reintroduction into the wild. Recently conservation biologists noticed that a conspiracy, or group, of lemurs in a Madagascar wildlife preserve were behaving oddly. Several lemurs were seen on the ground acting lethargic. The biologists sedated three lemurs to run some tests and see if they could understand this strange new behavior. All three of the lemurs had elevated body temperatures and appeared to be dehydrated and underweight as if they had not been eating regularly despite the availability of food in the tree tops of the preserve.