Plasmodium simium/Plasmodium vivax infections in southern brown howler monkeys from the Atlantic Forest

Plasmodium simium/Plasmodium vivax infections in southern brown howler monkeys from the Atlantic Forest

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Blood infection by the simian parasite, Plasmodium simium, was identified in captive (n = 45, 4.4%) and in wild Alouatta clamitans monkeys (n = 20, u11-200ps 35%) from the Atlantic Forest of southern Brazil.A single malaria infection was symptomatic and the monkey presented clinical and haematological alterations.

A high frequency of Plasmodium vivax-specific antibodies was detected among these monkeys, with 87% of the monkeys testing positive against P.vivax antigens.These findings highlight the possibility of malaria here as a zoonosis in the remaining Atlantic Forest and its impact on the epidemiology of the disease.