An epidemiological study of malaria parasites among long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis), pig-tailed macaques (Macaca nemestrina) and silver-leaf monkeys (Trachypithecus cristatus) in Sumatra Region, Indonesia

Abstract

Objective：To ascertain the prevalence and distribution of malaria parasites among the three monkeys species from three provinces in Sumatra Island, Indonesia.

Methods：Infections with Plasmodium spp. were determined morphologically from the blood smears which were stained with Giemsa solution and molecularly through nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in DNA samples from 68 primates, which were captured at three locations: Jambi (Bungo district), Bengkulu (Muko-Muko district), and Riau Islands (Lingga district).

Results： Out of 68 samples analyzed, 46 were positive for various Plasmodium species, including Plasmodium knowlesi, Plasmodium cynamolgi, Plasmodium inui, and Plasmodium coatneyi. Over one-third of the population exhibited multiple infections, with Plasmodium inui being the most predominant strain.

Conclusions： The high prevalence of multiple malaria infections in monkeys, coupled with the rising reports of primate malaria cases in human raises questions about the potential for human transmission. These findings emphasize the necessity for ongoing monitoring and endeavors to comprehend and alleviate the risk of zoonotic malaria transmission, particularly in areas experiencing environmental changes.

Keywords

Malaria parasites / Non-human primates / Sumatra

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Funding

Funding was obtained from the Center of Research and Development for Biomedical and Basic Health Technology of The National Institute of Research and Development, the Ministry of Health (Reference No HK.02.04/II/4579/2015).

Authors’ contributions

SH and RMD: conceptualization, design of the study and definition of intellectual content, literature search, perform the experimental studies, data acquisition and analysis, manuscript preparation and review, and as the guarantor. LDA and NSDP: literature search, manuscript preparation, review and editing. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Publisher’s note

The Publisher of the Journal remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Acknowledgements

The authors extend gratitude to the Center of Research and Development for Biomedical and Basic Health Technology of The National Institute of Research and Development, the Ministry of Health, for funding this research (Reference No. HK.02.04/ 11/4579/2015). Special appreciation is also extended to Ervi Salwati for granting permission to utilize certain data for this publication. The authors also would like to thank the regional officers and local communities who assisted in sample collection.

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