Publication: Investigations on anopheline mosquitoes close to the nest sites of chimpanzees subject to malaria infection in Ugandan highlands
Accepted Date
2012-04-06
Issued Date
2012-04-17
Copyright Date
2012
Resource Type
Language
eng
ISSN
1475-2875 (electronic)
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Mahidol University
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BioMed Central
Bibliographic Citation
Krief S, Levrero F, Krief JM, Thanapongpichat S, Imwong M, Snounou G, et al. Investigations on anopheline mosquitoes close to the nest sites of chimpanzees subject to malaria infection in Ugandan highlands. Malar J. 2012 Apr 17;11:116.
Suggested Citation
Krief, Sabrina, Levrero, Florence, Krief, Jean-Michel, Supinya Thanapongpichat, สุภิญญา ธนาพงษ์ภิชาติ, Mallika Imwong, มัลลิกา อิ่มวงศ์, Snounou, Georges, Kasenene, John M., Cibot, Marie, Gantier, Jean-Charles Investigations on anopheline mosquitoes close to the nest sites of chimpanzees subject to malaria infection in Ugandan highlands. Krief S, Levrero F, Krief JM, Thanapongpichat S, Imwong M, Snounou G, et al. Investigations on anopheline mosquitoes close to the nest sites of chimpanzees subject to malaria infection in Ugandan highlands. Malar J. 2012 Apr 17;11:116.. doi:10.1186/1475-2875-11-116 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/692
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Title
Investigations on anopheline mosquitoes close to the nest sites of chimpanzees subject to malaria infection in Ugandan highlands
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Abstract
BACKGROUND: Malaria parasites (Plasmodium sp.), including new species, have
recently been discovered as low grade mixed infections in three wild chimpanzees
(Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) sampled randomly in Kibale National Park,
Uganda. This suggested a high prevalence of malaria infection in this community.
The clinical course of malaria in chimpanzees and the species of the vectors that
transmit their parasites are not known. The fact that these apes display a
specific behaviour in which they consume plant parts of low nutritional value but
that contain compounds with anti-malarial properties suggests that the apes
health might be affected by the parasite. The avoidance of the night-biting
anopheline mosquitoes is another potential behavioural adaptation that would lead
to a decrease in the number of infectious bites and consequently malaria.
METHODS: Mosquitoes were collected over two years using suction-light traps and
yeast-generated CO(2) traps at the nesting and the feeding sites of two
chimpanzee communities in Kibale National Park. The species of the female
Anopheles caught were then determined and the presence of Plasmodium was sought
in these insects by PCR amplification.
RESULTS: The mosquito catches yielded a total of 309 female Anopheles specimens,
the only known vectors of malaria parasites of mammalians. These specimens
belonged to 10 species, of which Anopheles implexus, Anopheles vinckei and
Anopheles demeilloni dominated. Sensitive DNA amplification techniques failed to
detect any Plasmodium-positive Anopheles specimens. Humidity and trap height
influenced the Anopheles capture success, and there was a negative correlation
between nest numbers and mosquito abundance. The anopheline mosquitoes were also
less diverse and numerous in sites where chimpanzees were nesting as compared to
those where they were feeding.
CONCLUSIONS: These observations suggest that the sites where chimpanzees build
their nests every night might be selected, at least in part, in order to minimize
contact with anopheline mosquitoes, which might lead to a reduced risk in
acquiring malaria infections.