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Three protein-coding loci in DNA of an Entamoeba histolytica strain (EHMfas1) isolated from cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis) were sequenced; these loci corresponded to the genes for chitinase, the serine-rich E. histolytica protein (SREHP), and the 16 S-like small subunit ribosomal RNA (16S-like SSUrRNA). The nucleotide and deduced amino-acid sequences of chitinase and SREHP were compared with sequences from human isolates. EHMfas1 had several specific mutations in units in the polymorphic regions of the chitinase and SREHP loci, with some repetition of these mutated units. The sequence of the 16S-like SSUrRNA gene (16S-like SSUrDNA) was compared with other Entamoeba species. In phylogenetic analysis, EHMfas1 was not categorized in the E. histolytica cluster but between E. histolytica and E. dispar. To our knowledge, this is the first molecular characterization of E. histolytica isolated from cynomolgus monkey, and our results indicate that EHMfas1 may be a subspecies of E. histolytica that infects cynomolgus monkey.

Three hundred and three stool samples of cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) imported from China and the Philippines were examined for Entamoeba histolytica/Entamoeba dispar infections. Microscopy detected E. histolytica/E. dispar cysts in 41 samples. Positive rates were higher in the monkeys from China (37.5%) than in the monkeys from the Philippines (3.7%). PCR analysis of 25 samples successfully cultured from the cysts demonstrated that 24 were E. dispar, one of the samples from China was E. histolytica. The one sample was also identified as E. histolytica by an antigen detection kit, although the monkey was asymptomatic and serology was negative. To our knowledge, this is the first report of E. histolytica isolation from cynomolgus monkeys based on the discrimination between E. histolytica and E. dispar.

Abstract:The use of simian agent 8 (SA8) as an antigen for B virus (BV) antibody detection was evaluated in cynomolgus monkeys. Seventy-two sera judged as positive using BV antigen were all positive when the SA8 antigen was used. Out of 28 BV-negative sera 2 were positive against the SA8 antigen and one serum was classified as indeterminate. The present data indicates that detection of BV antibody can be achieved accurately and safely by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using SA8 antigen.