Abstract
Background:Certain species of macaques are natural hosts ofPlasmodium knowlesi and P. cynomolgi, which can both cause malaria in humans, and P. inui, which can be experimentally transmitted to humans. A significant number of zoonotic malaria cases have been reported in humans throughout Southeast Asia, including Thailand. There have been only two studies undertaken in Thailand to identify malaria parasites in non-human primates in 6 provinces. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of P. knowlesi, P. coatneyi, P. cynomolgi, P. inui and P. fieldiin non-human primates from 4 new locations in Thailand. Methods:A total of 93 blood samples from Macaca fascicularis, M. leonina and M. arctoides were collected from four locations in Thailand: 32 were captive M. fascicularisfrom Chachoengsao Province (CHA), 4 were wild M. fascicularis from Ranong Province (RAN), 32 were wildM. arctoidesfromPrachuap Kiri Khan Province (PRA), and 25 were wild M. leoninafrom Nakornratchasima Province (NAK). DNA was extracted from these samples and analysed by nested PCR assays to detect Plasmodium, and subsequently to detectP. knowlesi, P. coatneyi, P. cynomolgi, P. inui and P. fieldi.Results:Twenty-seven of the 93 (29%) samples were Plasmodium-positive by nested PCR assays. Among wild macaques, all 4 M. fascicularis at RAN were infected with malaria parasites followed by 50% of 32 M. arctoides at PRA and 20% of 25 M. leonina at NAK. Only 2 (6.3%) of the 32 captive M. fascicularisat CHA were malaria-positive. All 5 species of Plasmodium were detected and 16 (59.3%) of the 27 macaques had single infections, 9had double and 2 had triple infections.The composition of Plasmodium species in macaques at each sampling site was different. Macaca arctoides from PRA were infected with P. knowlesi, P. coatneyi, P. cynomolgi, P. inui and P. fieldi. Conclusions:The prevalence and species of Plasmodiumvaried among the wild and captive macaques, and betweenmacaques at 4 sampling sites in Thailand. Macaca arctoidesis a new natural host for P. knowlesi, P. inui,P. coatneyi and P. fieldi.