A comparative molecular survey of malaria prevalence among Eastern chimpanzee populations in Issa Valley (Tanzania) and Kalinzu (Uganda)

Abstract

BackgroundHabitat types can affect vector and pathogen distribution and transmission dynamics. The prevalence and genetic diversity of Plasmodium spp. in two eastern chimpanzee populations—Kalinzu Forest Reserve, Uganda and Issa Valley, Tanzania—inhabiting different habitat types was investigated. As a follow up study the effect of host sex and age on infections patterns in Kalinzu Forest Reserve chimpanzees was determined.MethodsMolecular methods were employed to detect Plasmodium DNA from faecal samples collected from savanna-woodland (Issa Valley) and forest (Kalinzu Forest Reserve) chimpanzee populations.ResultsBased on a Cytochrome-b PCR assay, 32 out of 160 Kalinzu chimpanzee faecal samples were positive for Plasmodium DNA, whilst no positive sample was detected in 171 Issa Valley chimpanzee faecal samples. Sequence analysis revealed that previously known Laverania species (Plasmodium reichenowi, Plasmodium billbrayi and Plasmodium billcollinsi) are circulating in the Kalinzu chimpanzees. A significantly higher proportion of young individuals were tested positive for infections, and switching of Plasmodium spp. was reported in one individual. Amongst the positive individuals sampled more than once, the success of amplification of Plasmodium DNA from faeces varied over sampling time.ConclusionThe study showed marked differences in the prevalence of malaria parasites among free ranging chimpanzee populations living in different habitats. In addition, a clear pattern of Plasmodium infections with respect to host age was found. The results presented in this study contribute to understanding the ecological aspects underlying the malaria infections in the wild. Nevertheless, integrative long-term studies on vector abundance, Plasmodium diversity during different seasons between sites would provide more insight on the occurrence, distribution and ecology of these pathogens.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12936-016-1476-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

An unexpected diversity of trypanosomatids in fecal samples of great apes

“…in gorillas and chimpanzees by detecting of parasite DNA in great ape feces coming from the same area as in the original study ( Hamad et al, 2015a ). In previous studies, we have used various detection methodologies for thousands of samples including fecal samples, and the results arising from our research have appeared in numerous studies (e.g., Myšková et al, 2008 ; Jirků et al, 2012 , 2015 ; Týč et al, 2013 ; Votýpka et al, 2015a ; Mapua and Votýpka, 2015 ; Mapua et al, 2015 , 2016 ; Ionică et al, 2017 ). Due to the prevalence of previous rigorously acquired results, the established and long-term nature of our work in this scientific field, and our experience in the detection of leishmania parasites (see Akhoundi et al, 2017 ), we feel competent to have conducted such a study.…”

“…We therefore decided to contribute to this stimulating discussion by analyzing newly-acquired gorilla and chimpanzee fecal samples from an area adjacent to the origin of the samples analyzed by Hamad et al (2015a) . The newly-collected samples were analyzed using well-established methodology for various trypanosomatid and blood parasite detection that is commonly used in our laboratories to investigate mainly trypanosomes, leishmanias and plasmodium (e.g., Myšková et al, 2008 ; Jirků et al, 2015 ; Mapua et al, 2016 ; Ionică et al, 2017 ). From a large number of methods regularly used for Leishmania detection (see Akhoundi et al, 2017 ), we chose four, based on qPCR, nested PCR and conventional PCR and targeting three different DNA loci.…”

Origin of Two Most Virulent Agents of Human Malaria:Plasmodium falciparumandPlasmodium vivax

“…However, this species was described only in Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii and hence is the reason why we believe that could be another species [10] (Figure 2). Moreover, Mapua and colleagues reported recently several lineages of these parasites among African apes [14].…”

Seasonal and inter-annual variation of malaria parasite detection in wild chimpanzees

“…The distribution, diversity and phylogenetic relationships of Plasmodium spp. have been the focus of several extensive studies conducted in the sub-Saharan African range of chimpanzees [ 1 – 5 ]. Although these studies did not aim at producing directly comparable prevalence estimates, the resulting picture was one of extreme geographic variations, with values ranging from 0% in Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii (Issa Valley, Tanzania) [ 5 ] up to 48% in Pan troglodytes troglodytes across multiple sites [ 6 ].…”

“…have been the focus of several extensive studies conducted in the sub-Saharan African range of chimpanzees [ 1 – 5 ]. Although these studies did not aim at producing directly comparable prevalence estimates, the resulting picture was one of extreme geographic variations, with values ranging from 0% in Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii (Issa Valley, Tanzania) [ 5 ] up to 48% in Pan troglodytes troglodytes across multiple sites [ 6 ]. This spatial heterogeneity may be explained by a complex combination of ecological factors influencing malaria parasite transmission, including the availability and abundance of vectors and/or the demographic, social, and behavioural characteristics of chimpanzee communities [ 5 , 7 ].…”