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A Multi-detection Assay for Malaria Transmitting Mosquitoes
Published on: February 28, 2015
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Malaria parasite detection increases during pregnancy in wild chimpanzees
Hélène M De Nys1, Sébastien Calvignac-Spencer, Christophe Boesch
1Epidemiology of Highly Pathogenic Microorganisms, Robert Koch-Institute, Nordufer 20, 13353 Berlin, Germany. De-NysH@rki.de.
Malaria Journal
|October 22, 2014
Summary
Pregnancy increases malaria parasite infection risk in female chimpanzees, particularly in younger individuals. This finding highlights similarities between human and chimpanzee malaria dynamics and suggests potential impacts on offspring health.
Area of Science:
- Primatology
- Parasitology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) host diverse malaria parasites (Plasmodium sp.) closely related to human pathogens.
- Chimpanzee malaria parasite biology and epidemiology remain underexplored.
- Pregnancy is a known risk factor for malaria in humans, prompting investigation in chimpanzees.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of pregnancy on malaria infection susceptibility in female chimpanzees.
- To gather baseline epidemiological data on chimpanzee malaria.
- To compare malaria infection dynamics between chimpanzees and humans.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 384 fecal samples from wild chimpanzees during and after pregnancy.
- Detection of malaria parasites using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing.
- Statistical analysis employing generalized linear mixed models.
Main Results:
- Malaria parasite detection probability significantly increased towards the end of chimpanzee pregnancies.
- Susceptibility to malaria infection decreased with increasing maternal age.
- Pregnancy emerged as a significant factor influencing malaria parasite detection.
Conclusions:
- Chimpanzee susceptibility to malaria increases during pregnancy, mirroring human patterns.
- Younger female chimpanzees exhibit higher susceptibility to malaria infection.
- Findings suggest similar malaria infection dynamics in humans and chimpanzees, raising concerns about pregnancy outcomes and offspring health.
