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Piel, AK (2016) A comparative molecular survey of malaria prevalence among Eastern chimpanzee populations in the Issa valley (Tanzania) and Kalinzu (Uganda). MALARIA JOURNAL, 15 (423). ISSN 1475-2875
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Abstract
Background: Habitat types can affect vector and pathogen distribution and transmission dynamics. We investigated the prevalence and genetic diversity of Plasmodium spp. in two eastern chimpanzee populations - Kalinzu Forest Reserve, Uganda and Issa valley, Tanzania - inhabiting different habitat types. As a follow up study, we determined the effect of host sex and age on infections patterns in Kalinzu Forest Reserve chimpanzees.
Methods: We employed molecular methods to detect Plasmodium DNA from faecal samples collected from savanna-woodland (Issa valley) and forest (Kalinzu Forest Reserve) chimpanzee populations.
Results: Based on a Cytochrome -b PCR assay, 32 out of 160 Kalinzu chimpanzee faecal samples were positive for Plasmodium DNA, whilst no positive sample was detected in 171 Issa valley chimpanzee faecal samples. Sequence analysis revealed that previously known Laverania species (P. reichenowi, P. billbrayi and P. billcollinsi) are circulating in the Kalinzu chimpanzees. A significantly higher proportion of young individuals were tested positive for infections, and switching of Plasmodium spp. was reported in one individual. Amongst the positive individuals sampled more than once, the success of amplification of Plasmodium DNA from faeces varied over sampling time.
Conclusion: Our results showed marked differences in the prevalence of malaria parasites among free ranging chimpanzee populations living in different habitats. In addition, we found a clear pattern of Plasmodium infections with respect to host age. The results presented in this study contribute to our understanding of ecological aspects underlying the malaria infections in the wild. Nevertheless, integrative long term studies on vector abundance, Plasmodium diversity during different seasons between sites would provide more insight on the occurrence, distribution and ecology of these pathogens.
| Item Type: | Article |
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| Uncontrolled Keywords: | 1108 Medical Microbiology |
| Subjects: | Q Science > QH Natural history > QH301 Biology Q Science > QL Zoology |
| Divisions: | Natural Sciences & Psychology (closed 31 Aug 19) |
| Publisher: | BioMed Central |
| Date Deposited: | 16 Aug 2016 12:45 |
| Last Modified: | 04 Sep 2021 12:36 |
| DOI or ID number: | 10.1186/s12936-016-1476-2 |
| URI: | https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/4028 |
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