First molecular screening of Plasmodium species in ungulates from Southern Brazil

Abstract

ObjectiveDespite malaria epidemiology has been extensively studied in primates, few studies were conducted in ungulates. After half a century without descriptions of Plasmodium spp. in deer since its first identification, recent research has rediscovered Plasmodium on ungulates in Africa, Asia, North America and South America, including Central Brazil. Here, a captive herd was evaluated in southern Brazil using light microscopy and PCR. DNA samples were tested for fragment amplification of two Plasmodium spp. genes: mitochondrial cytochrome b and small subunit ribosomal RNA.ResultsAll analyses were negative. However, the tests were performed on samples that were collected at a single time point, and parasitemia may fluctuate over the parasite’s life cycle. Thus, the possibility of occult infection cannot be ruled out. Despite the negative results of all of the methods applied, it cannot be categorically stated that these animals are free from Plasmodium sp. infection. Further monitoring and/or multiple sequential sampling may improve the success rate of detecting parasites. Moreover, although this survey of Plasmodium represents the first molecular study on ungulate malaria parasites from Southern Brazil, further analysis of samples from different ungulate species is important for characterizing the epidemiology of Plasmodium of these mammals in this region.

Penularan Penyakit Malaria Oleh Vektor Zoofilik Dengan Sumber Pakan Darah Non Manusia

“…Spesies yang ditemukan dari kedua negara tersebut adalah P. bubalis [14,15]. Upaya pelacakan parasit Plasmodium spp pada binatang rusa dilakukan juga di sebuah kebun binatang di Brasil namun belum dapat mendeteksi keberadaannya pada seluruh populasi yang ada [16].…”

Detection and study of genetic diversity of selected vector-borne protozoa and rickettsia in buffaloes in Thailand by biomolecular method

“…Until now, there have been very limited number of research studies in ungulate malaria parasites using molecular biology approach. Recently, studies led by Templeton et al (2016) and Kaewthamasorn et al (2018) confirmed the findings of malaria in water buffaloes and goats in Thailand and later followed by the two reports in pamper deer by Asada et al (2018) and dos Santos et al (2018) in Brazil.…”

“…Among 6 provinces, river buffaloes in Chachoengsao Province showed the highest prevalence of malaria infection, matching with the finding of Templeton et al, 2016. Although study of buffalo malaria was still limited, there were some research studies on other ungulates. Elsewhere, a study regarding ungulate malaria was conducted in Southern Brazil but no positive sample was found owing to the cervid blood samples were collected at only single time point so parasitemia level may fluctuate over the parasite's life cycle (dos Santos et al, 2018). Another study proved that there was a close relationship between Plasmodium sequences detected from South American pampas deer (Ozotoceros bezoarticus) to P. odocoilei clade 2 in North American whitetailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) (Asada et al, 2018).…”