Natural Human Infections with <i>Plasmodium cynomolgi</i>, <i>P. inui</i>, and 4 other Simian Malaria Parasites, Malaysia
Nan Jiun Yap, Hanisah Hossain, Thamayanthi Nada-Raja, Romano Ngui, Azdayanti Muslim, Boon‐Peng Hoh, Loke Tim Khaw, Khamisah Abdul Kadir, Paul C. S. Divis, Indra Vythilingam, Balbir Singh, Yvonne Ai Lian Lim
Abstract
Z oonotic malaria caused by Plasmodium knowlesi, commonly found in long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis) and pig-tailed macaques (M. nemestrina), is now a major emerging disease, particularly in Malaysia (1,2). Two other simian malaria parasites, P. cynomolgi (2-4) and P. inui (2), have also been shown to have the potential of zoonotic transmission to humans through the bites of infected mosquitoes under natural and experimental conditions. The risk of acquiring zoonotic malaria is highest for persons living at the forest fringe and working or venturing into the forest because of their proximity with the monkey reservoir hosts and the mosquito vectors With the aid of molecular methods, we aimed to investigate whether human infections with simian malaria parasites were present among indigenous communities in Malaysia whose villages are situated in the forest or at the forest fringe.