Presenter’s Email: peterdstuart@hotmail.com Amoebiasis, the
condition that results from infection with Entamoeba
histolytica, is a major global health concern. Infection is
common in the tropics, including South-East Asia. Infection can
also occur in non-human primates and most recently has been
observed in wild orangutans (Pongo sp.). Plants from Indonesia
were selected to be tested for activity against E. histolytica,
based on observations that orangutans were consuming them more
when infected with parasitic protozoa. Methanol and
Methanol:Tetrahydrofuran crude extracts were obtained from four
plants: Achidendron fagifollium, Diospyros sumatra, Piper betle
and Shorea sumatrana. Of these D. sumatra and P. betle showed
activity against E. histolytica (IC50 <47microg/ml and IC50 <67
mikrog/ml respectively). The results support the use of these
plants for dysentery by local people. They also demonstrate for
the first time, that orangutans may be directly
self-medicating. Preliminary trials of these plants on N.
fowleri suggest further trials are warranted.
Presenter’s Email: peterdstuart@hotmail.com XXX (no-need to enter paper number) The aim of this study is to identify Entamoeba species infecting wild and semi-wild orangutans and any risk factors associated with infection. Due to habitat loss, the Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii) is currently listed as critically endangered and the Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) is listed as endangered. For the continued survival of orangutans, intensive management of the remaining populations is required. Key to the success of these management practices is preventing the introduction of infectious diseases to the remaining populations. Infection with Entamoeba is of concern as orangutans have been observed to be infected with Entamoeba species and infection has been linked to morbidity and mortality in primates. However, it remains to be determined if the species infecting orangutans is the pathogenic species Entamoeba histolytica. This study aims to identify the species of Entamoeba infecting orangutans by carrying out PCR assays on approximately 400 faecal samples collected by the Orangutan Health Project. These samples have been collected from 87 individual wild and semi-wild orangutans from 2004 to 2011 in two different sites in Sumatra (Bukit Lawang and Ketambe) and two sites in Kalimantan (Sebangau and Tuanan). Factors including age, sex, location and time of year will be investigated to identify any risk factors associated with infection. Results will be discussed. Financially supported by the UMI- Saving of the Pongidae Foundation and GA P505/11/1163.
13 issues per year.Ins tu onal subscrip on prices for 2020 are: Online Only: US$5,689 (US), US$5,689 (Rest of World), €3,675 (Europe), £2,907 (UK).Prices are exclusive of tax.Asia-Pacifi
Pathogens, which have recently colonized a new host species or new populations of the same host, are interesting models for understanding how populations may evolve in response to novel environments. During its colonization of South America from Africa, Plasmodium falciparum, the main agent of malaria, has been exposed to new conditions in distinctive new human populations (Amerindian and populations of mixed origins) that likely exerted new selective pressures on the parasite's genome. Among the genes that might have experienced strong selective pressures in response to these environmental changes, the eba genes (erythrocyte-binding antigens genes), which are involved in the invasion of the human red blood cells, constitute good candidates. In this study, we analysed, in South America, the polymorphism of three eba genes (eba-140, eba-175, eba-181) and compared it to the polymorphism observed in African populations. The aim was to determine whether these genes faced selective pressures in South America distinct from what they experienced in Africa. Patterns of genetic variability of these genes were compared to the patterns observed at two housekeeping genes (adsl and serca) and 272 SNPs to separate adaptive effects from demographic effects. We show that, conversely to Africa, eba-140 seemed to be under stronger diversifying selection in South America than eba-175. In contrast, eba-181 did not show any sign of departure from neutrality. These changes in the patterns of selection on the eba genes could be the consequence of changes in the host immune response, the host receptor polymorphisms and/or the ability of the parasite to silence or express differentially its invasion proteins.
Presenter’s Email: e.yalcindag@gmail.com Several pathogenic
parasites threaten great apes survival. Parasites are primarily
transmited between captive, semi captive and wild ape
populations, between apes and other wildlife species and/or
humans and their livestock. Several viral diseases and
parasitic infections have been well-studied in African apes.
However, the distribution and transmission of parasites in
orangutans, (the only non-African great apes), are still
comparatively poorly understood. Recently, the total number and
distribution of orangutans has reduced drastically, primarily
due to habitat lost. Several studies have been done on captive
and semi-captive species. Information from wild populations is
still missing. The aim of this study is to identify
Strongyloides species infecting wild and semi-wild orangutans
by carrying out PCR assays on 410 fecal samples collected by
the Orangutan Health Project. These samples have been collected
from 110 wild individual orangutans from 2004 to 2011 in 4
different sites in Indonesia from both Sumatra and Borneo. We
will investigate; which Strongyloides species naturally infect
orangutans and compare parasitic infection observed in the two
Orangutans species, Pongo abelii and Pongo pygmaeus. Factors
including age, sex, time of year and population structure will
be investigated to identify any risk factors associated with
infection. Results will be discussed. The study was financially
supported by the UMI - Saving of Pongidae Foundation and partly
by GA P505/11/1163.
Abstract Key to the success of orangutan conservation management practices is the prevention of the introduction of infectious diseases to the remaining populations. Previous reports of Entamoeba spp. positive orangutans are of concern as Entamoeba spp. infection has been linked to morbidity and mortality in primates. It remains to be determined if the Entamoeba species infecting orangutans is the pathogenic Entamoeba histolytica . Orangutan fecal samples have been collected from orangutans from sites in Sumatra (Bukit Lawang, Ketambe, and Suaq, 241 samples from 64 individuals), and two sites in Kalimantan (Sebangau and Tuanan, 129 samples from 39 individuals). All samples were from wild orangutans except for a proportion from Sumatra which were from semi‐wild (108 samples, 10 individuals). E. histolytica ‐specific nested PCR assays were carried out on the fecal samples. A total of 36 samples from 17 individuals tested positive for E. histolytica . When compared with published sequences using NCBI BLAST the E. histolytica positive samples showed a 98–99% concordance. The majority (76%, n = 36) of the positive isolates came from semi‐wild orangutans in Bukit Lawang. This study supports the growing body of evidence that contact with humans is an important risk factor for infection of wild primates with E. histolytica .
Resume : La biologie evolutive permet de comprendre et de retracer l'origine des especes ou des populations, de comprendre leurs dispersions dans differentes zones et d'analyser les differentiations resultant de ces evolutions. L'invasion biologique et les especes envahissantes en general sont de bons modeles pour etudier et comprendre l'adaptation a de nouveaux environnements. Plasmodium falciparum, un protozoaire parasite agent du paludisme, a envahit de nouvelles populations hotes et de nouvelles especes de vecteurs a plusieurs reprises. Notre objectif etait d'etudier (i) l'introduction, l'origine et la distribution de P. falciparum dans des environnements radicalement differents : dans une nouvelle aire geographique tout d'abord (en Amerique du Sud) puis dans une nouvelle espece hote (chez les primates) et (ii) de determiner les genes potentiellement impliques dans l'adaptation a ces nouveaux environnements. Ces questions ont ete abordees a travers differentes approches reunissant des analyses de genetique des populations, de phylogeographie ainsi que des analyses phylogenetiques. Les resultats obtenus demontrent pour la premiere fois que, P. falciparum a ete introduit par l'homme au moins a deux reprises en Amerique du Sud a partir de l'Afrique. Cette these a aussi permis de demontrer pour la premiere fois que ce parasite circule naturellement chez les primates non-humains. L'analyse des patrons de selection sur des genes candidats jouant un role dans l'invasion des hematies par le parasite a ete realisee afin de determiner si des evolutions adaptatives particulieres avaient operees sur ces genes dans ces nouveaux environnements. L'ensemble de nos resultats demontrent que P. falciparum peut etre considere comme une espece envahissante et que ce parasite n'est en fait pas specifique a l'homme. L'ensemble de notre travail nous a permis d'avancer dans la connaissance de ce modele biologique en termes de strategie d'emergence ou de reemergence dans differents environnements. Nos resultats soulignent les changements qui ont opere dans la distribution geographique et l'emergence du spectre d'hote utilise par P. falciparum au cours de son histoire evolutive passee et presente ce qui peut laisser craindre d'autres evolutions a l'avenir.Mots cles : Invasion biologique, espece invasive, parasite, origine, adaptation, selection, maladies emergente, Plasmodium falciparum, Amerique du Sud, genetique des populations, phylogeographie, marqueurs moleculaires, singes.
Recent molecular exploration of the Plasmodium species circulating in great apes in Africa has revealed the existence of a large and previously unknown diversity of Plasmodium . For instance, gorillas were found to be infected by parasites closely related to Plasmodium falciparum , suggesting that the human malignant malaria agent may have arisen after a transfer from gorillas. Although this scenario is likely in light of the data collected in great apes, it remained to be ascertained whether P. falciparum -related parasites may infect other nonhuman primates in Africa. Using molecular tools, we here explore the diversity of Plasmodium species infecting monkeys in Central Africa. In addition to previously described Hepatocystis and Plasmodium species ( Plasmodium gonderi and Plasmodium sp DAJ-2004 ), we have found one African monkey to be infected by a P. falciparum -related parasite. Examination of the nuclear and mitochondrial genomes of this parasite reveals that it is specific of nonhuman primates, indicating that P. falciparum -related pathogens can naturally circulate in some monkey populations in Africa. We also show that at least two distinct genetic entities of P. falciparum infect nonhuman primates and humans, respectively. Our discoveries bring into question the proposed gorilla origin of human P. falciparum .
One of the principal limitations on livestock productivity in sub-Saharan Africa is the constraining effect of infectious diseases, including tick-borne blood pathogens. Currently, diagnostic markers for these pathogens are species or genus specific, making it challenging to implement high-throughput screening methods. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a novel high-throughput diagnostic tool capable of detecting a range of important haemopathogens in livestock. To achieve this, we developed a high-throughput diagnostic tool that can detect all species of
Abstract Parasitic nematodes of Oesophagostomum spp., commonly known, as 'nodular worms' are emerging as the most widely distributed and prevalent zoonotic nematodes. Oesophagostomum infections are well documented in African non-human primates; however, the taxonomy, distribution and transmission of Oesophagostomum in Asian non-human primates are not adequately studied. To better understand which Oesophagostomum species infect Asian non-human primates and determine their phylogeny we analysed 55 faecal samples from 50 orangutan and 5 gibbon individuals from Borneo and Sumatra. Both microscopy and molecular results revealed that semi-wild animals had higher Oesophagostomum infection prevalence than free ranging animals. Based on sequence genotyping analysis targeting the Internal transcribed spacer 2 of rDNA, we report for the first time the presence of O. aculeatum in Sumatran apes. Population genetic analysis shows that there is significant genetic differentiation between Bornean and Sumatran O. aculeatum populations. Our results clearly reveal that O. aculeatum in free-ranging animals have a higher genetic variation than those in semi-wild animals, demonstrating that O. aculeatum is circulating naturally in wildlife and zoonotic transmission is possible. Further studies should be conducted to better understand the epidemiology and dynamics of Oesophagostomum transmission between humans, non-human primates and other wild species and livestock in Southeast Asia.
