Blood infection by the simian parasite, Plasmodium simium, was
identified in captive (n = 45, 4.4%) and in wild Alouatta clamitans
monkeys (n = 20, 35%) from the Atlantic Forest of southern Brazil. A single malaria
infection was symptomatic and the monkey presented clinical and haematological
alterations. A high frequency of Plasmodium vivax-specific
antibodies was detected among these monkeys, with 87% of the monkeys testing positive
against P. vivax antigens. These findings highlight the possibility
of malaria as a zoonosis in the remaining Atlantic Forest and its impact on the
epidemiology of the disease.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.