title: African monkeys are infected by Plasmodium falciparum nonhuman primate-specific strains.
abstract: Recent molecular exploration of the Plasmodium species circulating in great apes in Africa has revealed the existence of a large and previously unknown diversity of Plasmodium. For instance, gorillas were found to be infected by parasites closely related to Plasmodium falciparum, suggesting that the human malignant malaria agent may have arisen after a transfer from gorillas. Although this scenario is likely in light of the data collected in great apes, it remained to be ascertained whether P. falciparum-related parasites may infect other nonhuman primates in Africa. Using molecular tools, we here explore the diversity of Plasmodium species infecting monkeys in Central Africa. In addition to previously described Hepatocystis and Plasmodium species (Plasmodium gonderi and Plasmodium sp DAJ-2004), we have found one African monkey to be infected by a P. falciparum-related parasite. Examination of the nuclear and mitochondrial genomes of this parasite reveals that it is specific of nonhuman primates, indicating that P. falciparum-related pathogens can naturally circulate in some monkey populations in Africa. We also show that at least two distinct genetic entities of P. falciparum infect nonhuman primates and humans, respectively. Our discoveries bring into question the proposed gorilla origin of human P. falciparum.
authors: Laboratoire Maladies Infectieuses et Vecteurs Écologie, Génétique, Évolution et Controle, Unité Mixte de Recherche 224 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement-UM1, BP 64501, 34394 Montpellier Cedex 5, France. franck.prugnolle@ird.fr
authors: Franck
authors: F
authors: Prugnolle
authors: Benjamin
authors: B
authors: Ollomo
authors: Patrick
authors: P
authors: Durand
authors: Erhan
authors: E
authors: Yalcindag
authors: Céline
authors: C
authors: Arnathau
authors: Eric
authors: E
authors: Elguero
authors: Antoine
authors: A
authors: Berry
authors: Xavier
authors: X
authors: Pourrut
authors: Jean-Paul
authors: JP
authors: Gonzalez
authors: Dieudonné
authors: D
authors: Nkoghe
authors: Jean
authors: J
authors: Akiana
authors: Delphine
authors: D
authors: Verrier
authors: Eric
authors: E
authors: Leroy
authors: Francisco J
authors: FJ
authors: Ayala
authors: François
authors: F
authors: Renaud
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002520:Cercopithecidae; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D031541:Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer; D005681:Gabon / Q000453:epidemiology; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats / Q000235:genetics; D008957:Models, Genetic; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D008992:Monkey Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology*; D027425:ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family C Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D010802:Phylogeny; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000235:genetics*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D027425:ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family C Proteins; C513498:Mdr1 protein, Plasmodium falciparum