Ubiquitous Hepatocystis infections, but no evidence of Plasmodium falciparum-like malaria parasites in wild greater spot-nosed monkeys (Cercopithecus nictitans).
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.
Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, University of Montpellier, 34394 Montpellier, France.
Ahidjo
A
Ayouba
Fatima
F
Mouacha
Gerald H
GH
Learn
Eitel
E
Mpoudi-Ngole
Julian C
JC
Rayner
Paul M
PM
Sharp
Beatrice H
BH
Hahn
Eric
E
Delaporte
Martine
M
Peeters
D000818:Animals; D016782:Apicomplexa / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002521:Cercopithecus / Q000145:classification / Q000469:parasitology*; D004197:Disease Reservoirs / Q000145:classification / Q000469:parasitology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*