Identification of Plasmodium spp. in Neotropical primates of Maranhense Amazon in Northeast Brazil

Abstract

In the Brazilian Amazon region, malaria caused by Plasmodium malariae is considered to be a zoonosis because of cross-transfer of the parasite between humans and Neotropical primates. To contribute information on this issue, we investigated occurrences of natural infection with Plasmodium sp. among Neotropical primates in the Maranhense Amazon (Amazon region of the state of Maranhão), in the northeastern region of Brazil. Blood samples were collected from 161 Neotropical primates of six species that were caught in an environmental reserve (Sítio Aguahy) and from captive primates (CETAS—Wildlife Screening Center, municipality of São Luís), in Maranhão. Plasmodium sp. was diagnosed based on light microscopy, PCR, qPCR and LAMP for amplification of the 18S rRNA gene. Serum samples were also assayed by means of indirect immunofluorescence for IgG antibodies against P. malariae/P. brasilianum, P. falciparum and P. berghei. Parasites were detected through light microscopy on five slides from captive primates (four Sapajus spp. and one Callithrix jacchus). In the molecular tests, 34.16% (55/161) and 29.81% (48/161) of the animals sampled were positive in the qPCR and PCR assays, respectively. In the PCR, 47/48 animals were positive for P. malariae/P. brasilianum; of these, eight were free-living primates and 39 from CETAS, São Luís. One sample showed a band in the genus-specific reaction, but not in the second PCR reaction. Anti-P. malariae/P. brasilianum IgG antibodies were detected in four serum samples from Sapajus spp. in captivity. In this study, circulation of P. malariae/P. brasilianum in Neotropical primates was confirmed, with low levels of parasitemia and low levels of antibodies. The importance of these animals as reservoirs of human malaria in the region studied is still unknown. This scenario has an impact on control and elimination of malaria in this region.

Defining the ecological and evolutionary drivers of Plasmodium knowlesi transmission within a multi-scale framework

“…malariae , Brazil with Plasmodium simium [34, 35], Northeast Brazil with P. brasilianum/P. malariae [36], Malaysia with P. cynomolgi [37], and the Central African Republic with the P. vivax - like strain from the great apes [38].…”

Genetic conflicts with Plasmodium parasites and functional constraints shape the evolution of erythrocyte cytoskeletal proteins

“…2 ). We next retrieved information on Plasmodium infection for the taxa represented in the phylogeny 40 – 42 (Supplementary Table S1 ). Notably, episodes of positive selection tend to be more common for species that host a larger number of different Plasmodium parasites (Fig.…”

“…Data on Plasmodium distribution in NHP were obtained from a previous work that used published records of Plasmodium parasites in NHPs to provide a global overview of primate malarias 1 . These data were updated through literature searches of studies published after 2005 40 – 42 .…”

Howler monkeys are the reservoir of malaria parasites causing zoonotic infections in the Atlantic forest of Rio de Janeiro

“…Although P. brasilianum has been found in several NHP genera [5,38,39] around other Brazilian regions, previous studies conducted in Brazilian Atlantic forest and Cerrado biomes did not find any capuchin (56 examined) nor marmosets (out of 44) infected with Plasmodium [20]. In the same way, more than 270 marmosets and lion-tamarins from the Southeast were Plasmodium negative [5].…”