Ubiquitous Hepatocystis infections, but no evidence of Plasmodium falciparum-like malaria parasites in wild greater spot-nosed monkeys (Cercopithecus nictitans)

• Published in: International journal for parasitology Vol. 42; no. 8; pp. 709 - 713
• Main Authors: Ayouba, Ahidjo, Mouacha, Fatima, Learn, Gerald H., Mpoudi-Ngole, Eitel, Rayner, Julian C., Sharp, Paul M., Hahn, Beatrice H., Delaporte, Eric, Peeters, Martine
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01-07-2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animals; Apicomplexa - classification; Apicomplexa - genetics; Apicomplexa - isolation & purification; Biological and medical sciences; Cercopithecus - classification; Cercopithecus - parasitology; Cercopithecus nictitans; Disease Reservoirs - classification; Disease Reservoirs - parasitology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Greater spot-nosed monkey; Hepatocystis; Human protozoal diseases; Infectious diseases; Life cycle. Host-agent relationship. Pathogenesis; Malaria; Mammalia; Medical sciences; Molecular Sequence Data; Non-human primates; Parasitic diseases; Phylogeny; Plasmodium falciparum; Plasmodium falciparum - classification; Plasmodium falciparum - genetics; Plasmodium falciparum - isolation & purification; Protozoa; Protozoal diseases; Vertebrates: general zoology, morphology, phylogeny, systematics, cytogenetics, geographical distribution; Plasmodium falciparum; Hepatocystis; Non-human primates; Cercopithecus nictitans; Greater spot-nosed monkey; Malaria; Human; Protozoa; Apicomplexa; Protozoal disease; Monkey; Parasite; Parasitosis; Infection; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Primates; Simioidea
• ISSN: 0020-7519; 1879-0135
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2012.05.004

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► Wild Cercopithecus nictitans from Cameroon were screened for Plasmodium falciparum-related parasites. ► Hepatocystis spp. were detected in 49% of the samples. ► None of the 292 wild C. nictitans harbored P. falciparum-like parasites. ► Greater spot-nosed monkeys do not represent a natural P. falciparum reservoir.
Western gorillas (Gorilla gorilla) have been identified as the natural reservoir of the parasites that were the immediate precursor of Plasmodium falciparum infecting humans. Recently, a P. falciparum-like sequence was reported in a sample from a captive greater spot-nosed monkey (Cercopithecus nictitans), and was taken to indicate that this species may also be a natural reservoir for P. falciparum-related parasites. To test this hypothesis we screened blood samples from 292 wild C. nictitans monkeys that had been hunted for bushmeat in Cameroon. We detected Hepatocystis spp. in 49% of the samples, as well as one sequence from a clade of Plasmodium spp. previously found in birds, lizards and bats. However, none of the 292 wild C. nictitans harbored P. falciparum-like parasites.