Simian malaria at two sites in the Brazilian Amazon: I-The infection rates of Plasmodium brasilianum in non-human primates

Abstract

The parasite that causes simian malaria in the Brazilian Amazon, Plasmodium brasilianum, is infective to man. In this region, where humans live within and in close proximity to the forest, it was suspected that this parasite could be the cause of a zoonosis. A study was performed in the areas surrounding two hydroelectric plants in the Amazon, Balbina and Samuel, aiming at determining the zoonotic potential of this parasite. P. brasilianum was detected in, respectively, 15.8% and 9.9% of 126 and 252 primates belonging to seven and eight species examined from Balbina and Samuel. The highest malaria infection rates were found among the red-howler monkey Alouatta seniculus straminea (32.3%), the bearded-saki Chiropotes satanas chiropotes (50%) and the spider-monkey Ateles paniscus paniscus (2[1+]) from Balbina and in the squirrel-monkey Saimiri ustus (21%) and the black-faced-spider-monkey Ateles paniscus chamek (28.6%) from Samuel.

The Infection Rates of Trypanosomes in Squirrel Monkeys at Two Sites in the Brazilian Amazon

“…Other monkeys, marmosets and tamarins species from both Balbina and Samuel have also been examined for the search of trypanosomes and plasmodia (Lourenço-de-Oliveira 1988, Deane et al 1989, Lourenço-de-Oliveira et al 1991, Deane 1992, Lourenço-de-Oliveira & Deane 1995.…”

“…After the construction of both dams, primates were captured in the forests of the dam reservoir flooded plains. A description of these 2 sites was given by Lourenço-deOliveira and Deane (1995).…”

Simian malaria at two sites in the Brazilian Amazon - II: Vertical distribution and frequency of anopheline species inside and outside the forest

“…Details about these two sites, such as climate, vegetation and fauna are given elsewhere (Lourenço-de-Oliveira & Deane 1995).…”

“…The infection rates of this parasite in monkeys from those areas have been published elsewhere (Lourenço-de-Oliveira & Deane 1995). This paper presents the results of a mosquito survey conducted in those sites to describe the anopheline fauna within the forest and in surrounding cleared areas, as well as anopheline species frequencies near the ground and in the tree canopy.…”

Forest culicinae mosquitoes in the environs of samuel hydroeletric plant, state of Rondônia, Brazil

“…The relative humidity varies from 74% to 90.8%, with an annual average of 82% (Lisboa 1990). Other data on the Samuel Ecological Station, such as details about climate, vegetation and fauna, were published elsewhere (ELETRONORTE 1988, Lourenço-de-Oliveira & Deane 1995 and the sites where mosquitoes have been surveyed were spotted on a map presented in Lourenço-de-Oliveira and Deane (1995: 333).…”