Reinvestigating the status of malaria parasite (Plasmodium sp.) in Indian non-human primates

Abstract

Many human parasites and pathogens have closely related counterparts among non-human primates. For example, non-human primates harbour several species of malaria causing parasites of the genus Plasmodium. Studies suggest that for a better understanding of the origin and evolution of human malaria parasites it is important to know the diversity and evolutionary relationships of these parasites in non-human primates. Much work has been undertaken on malaria parasites in wild great Apes of Africa as well as wild monkeys of Southeast Asia however studies are lacking from South Asia, particularly India. India is one of the major malaria prone regions in the world and exhibits high primate diversity which in turn provides ideal setting for both zoonoses and anthropozoonoses. In this study we report the molecular data for malaria parasites from wild populations of Indian non-human primates. We surveyed 349 fecal samples from five different Indian non-human primates, while 94 blood and tissue samples from one of the Indian non-human primate species (Macaca radiata) and one blood sample from M. mulatta. Our results confirm the presence of P. fragile, P. inui and P. cynomolgi in Macaca radiata. Additionally, we report for the first time the presence of human malarial parasite, P. falciparum, in M. mulatta and M. radiata. Additionally, our results indicate that M. radiata does not exhibit population structure probably due to human mediated translocation of problem monkeys. Human mediated transport of macaques adds an additional level of complexity to tacking malaria in human. This issue has implications for both the spread of primate as well as human specific malarias.

Human Plasmodium in Domestic Animals in West Sumba and Fakfak, Indonesia

“…The previous studies found Plasmodium relictum in avian (19), P. cephalophi in ungulate (20), P. traguli in mousedeer (21), P. brucei in gray duiker (22,23), P. bubalis in water buffalo (24), and P. odocoilei in whitetailed deer (25,26). In ruminant, P. caprae was found in goat (27), in Rodentia was P. bergei (28), and in primates were found P. cynomolgi, P. inui, and P. fragile (29).…”

The discovery of human Plasmodium among domestic animals in West Sumba and Fakfak, Indonesia

“…25,26 Other parasites found included P. caprae in goats (ruminant), 27 P. bergei in Rodentia, 28 and P. cynomolgi, P. inui, and P. fragile in primates. 29 The five Plasmodium species that infect humans were originally parasites in primates. 1,3,[6][7][8][9] In this study, P. falciparum was found in buffalos, goats, dogs, and horses, while P. vivax was in buffalos, goats, and dogs.…”

Atlantic Forest Malaria: A Review of More than 20 Years of Epidemiological Investigation

“…In recent years, studies of simian malaria have focused on the detection of Plasmodium in blood samples through an invasive process often harmful to wild specimens, usually causing injury or death during containment and anesthesia. Nowadays, alternative noninvasive methodologies have enabled safer and more effective screening, allowing the detection of parasite DNA using other types of samples, such as feces, urine, and saliva [ 38 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 ].…”