scholarly journals Howler monkeys are the reservoir of malaria parasites causing zoonotic infections in the Atlantic forest of Rio de Janeiro

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Filipe Vieira Santos de Abreu ◽  
Edmilson dos Santos ◽  
Aline Rosa Lavigne Mello ◽  
Larissa Rodrigues Gomes ◽  
Denise Anete Madureira de Alvarenga ◽  
...  

AbstractBackgroundAlthough malaria transmission was eradicated from southeast Brazil, a significant increase in the number of Plasmodium vivax-like autochthonous human cases has been reported in remote areas of the Atlantic Forest in the last decades in Rio de Janeiro (RJ) state, including an outbreak in 2015-2016. The singular clinical and epidemiological aspects of several human cases combined with molecular and genetic data revealed that they were due to the non-human primate (NHP) parasite P. simium. The full understanding of the epidemiology of the autochthonous malaria in southeastern Brazil depends, however, upon the knowledge on the circulation of NHP Plasmodium in the foci and the determination of its reservoirs.MethodologyA large sampling effort was carried out in the Atlantic forest of RJ and its bordering states (Minas Gerais, São Paulo, Espírito Santo) for capture and examination of free-living NHPs. Blood and/or viscera were analyzed for Plasmodia infections through molecular and microscopic techniques.Principal findingsIn total, 146 NHPs of six species, from 30 counties in four states were tested. Howler monkeys (A. guariba clamitans) were the only NHP species found infected. In RJ, 26% of howlers were positive, among them 17% were found to be infected with P. simium. Importantly, specific single nucleotide polymorphisms were detected in all P. simium infected howlers regardless geographical origin of malaria foci. Interestingly, 71% of P. simium infected NHP were from the coastal slope of a mountain chain (Serra do Mar), where most human cases have been occurring. P. brasilianum/malariae was detected for the first time in 14% free-living howlers in RJ as well as in 25% of those from the Espírito Santo state. Moreover, malarial pigment was detected in spleen fragments of 50% of a subsample composed of howler monkeys found dead in both RJ and ES. All NHPs were negative for P. falciparum.Conclusions/SignificanceOur data indicate the howler monkeys as the main reservoir of the Atlantic forest human malaria in RJ and other sites in Southeast Brazil and reinforce its zoonotic nature.Author summaryThe present work consists of an unprecedented capture effort and large-scale field survey of plasmodial species in Non-human primates (NHPs) in RJ, a state recording a three-decade history of autochthonous human cases of benign tertian malaria pending epidemiological clarification of their origin. For the first time, we describe infection rates by Plasmodium sp.in free-living NHP, match the spatial distribution of P. simium in NHP with that of local human cases of benign tertian malaria due to this parasite, disclose howler monkeys as the only confirmed reservoir of this zoonotic malaria in the state and showed that specific single nucleotide polymorphisms were present in all P. simium infected howlers, regardless of the geographical origin of malaria foci. It is also the first time that P. brasilianum/malariae is recorded in free-living NHPs from Rio de Janeiro and the widespread distribution of this quartan-malaria parasite of zoonotic potential in the state is illustrated. Together, these findings increase the understanding about the simian malaria parasites in Atlantic Forests, as well as on the zoonotic character of autochthonous human malaria in Rio de Janeiro, providing subsidies for shaping surveillance and control.

2014 ◽  
Vol 08 (01) ◽  
pp. 079-084 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nalini Aswath ◽  
Bhuminathan Swamikannu ◽  
Sankar Narayanan Ramakrishnan ◽  
Rajendran Shanmugam ◽  
Jayakar Thomas ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Objective: In the present study, we have investigated the genetic status of CTSC gene in a HMS subject, who along with her parents belonged to non-Jewish South Indian Dravidian community. Materials and Methods: Genomic deoxyribonucleic acid isolated from the peripheral blood of the subject was amplified with CTSC exon specific primers and were analyzed by direct sequencing. Results: Sequencing analysis identified Ile453Val mutation within exon 7 of CTSC gene in heterozygous condition, and two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within intron 2 and 5 in homozygous condition. Conclusion: The present study has identified for the first time the association of Ile453Val mutation within exon 7 and the two SNPs in a subject with HMS.


2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenxuan Liu ◽  
Ning Ma ◽  
Xia Gao ◽  
Wencong Liu ◽  
Jinhai Jia ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose. ERF3, having been found expressing differently in liver tissues in our previous work, including eRF3a and eRF3b, which are structural homologs named GSPT1 and GSPT2. Recent studies have indicated that eRF3b involved in the development and proliferation of HepG2 cell, and eRF3a may be associated with tumor susceptibility. Based on this, we tested the effects of GSPT1 and GSPT2 single-nucleotide polymorphisms for all major Hepatitis B virus (HBV) outcomes and lamivudine (LAM) treatment in Han Chinese. Method. A total of 1649 samples were enrolled, and peripheral blood samples were collected in the present study. The single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the GSPT1 and GSPT2 region were genotyped using MALDI-TOF MS. Results. Our study demonstrated there was no obvious relevance of either GSPT1-rs33635 or GSPT2-rs974285 polymorphisms with HBV susceptibility, spontaneous recovery, and development of HBV-related diseases. However, we showed for the first time to our knowledge that GSPT1-rs33635C was a predictor for LAM therapy (viral response: odds ratio (OR) = 2.436, P=0.022; biochemical response: OR = 3.328, P=1.73 × 10−4). Conclusions. These findings might provide potential implications for therapeutic guidance.


2013 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
F.L.M. Ricciardolo ◽  
V. Sorbello ◽  
M. Silvestri ◽  
M. Giacomelli ◽  
V.M.G. Debenedetti ◽  
...  

Asthma is a chronic airway inflammatory disease associated with airway hyperresponsiveness which affects subjects with genetic predisposition. An association has been reported between some polymorphisms in various cytokine genes and asthma. Most of them are single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). These polymorphisms are detected in the protein coding sequence or in the promoter region thus influencing cytokine production. We investigated the involvement of SNP mapping in 5 cytokine genes in mild to severe asthmatics of Italian Caucasians. The frequency of alleles and genotypes, relatively to 10 allelic specificities of the cytokine genes, was defined in 57 asthmatics and in 124 control subjects by a Polymerase Chain Reaction-Sequence Specific Primer method. TNF-α -308A and TNF-α -238A allele frequencies were higher in asthmatics than in controls (p<0.001). Significant differences in the frequency of IL-4 -590T allele and of IL-4Rα + 1902A allele were also detected in asthmatics in comparison with controls (p<0.001 and p=0.005, respectively). Similarly, IL-1α -889C allele was present in 84.1% of asthmatics and in 70.2% of controls (p=0.013). Furthermore, the IL-4Rα + 1902A/A and IL-1α -889C/C homozygous conditions and the TNF-α -308G/A, TNF-α -238G/A, IL-4 -590T/C and IL-10 -1082G/A heterozygous conditions were significantly associated with asthma (p<0.05). ACA haplotype of IL-10 was observed only in asthmatic patients. This study reports, for the first time, the frequency of 10 different single nucleotide polymorphisms in 5 cytokine genes in the Italian Caucasians. Furthermore, we also indicate that in our population some single nucleotide polymorphisms are associated with mild to severe bronchial asthma.


2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 173-181 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weiwei He ◽  
Bin Wang ◽  
Kaida Mu ◽  
Jing Zhang ◽  
Yanping Yang ◽  
...  

Background Accumulating data have shown that interleukin-27 (IL27) polymorphisms are linked to the susceptibility of some autoimmune diseases. We assessed whether there was an association between three single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of IL27 gene and autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITDs). Methods Three SNPs (rs153109, rs17855750 and rs181206) of IL27 gene were genotyped by Hi-SNP high-throughput genotyping in 843 patients with AITDs (516 Graves’ disease (GD) and 327 Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT)) and 677 healthy controls in Chinese Han population. Results Compared with controls, rs153109 displayed significant associations with GD in allele and genotype frequencies (P = 0.002 and P = 0.008, respectively) and rs17855750 displayed significant associations with HT in allele frequencies (P = 0.02), whereas no differences in genotype or allele frequencies were found between AITD patients and controls at rs181206. Conclusion Our study, for the first time, showed the significant association of the IL27 gene SNPs with AITD.


Tumor Biology ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 41 (9) ◽  
pp. 101042831987209 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vivian Castro Antunes Vasconcelos ◽  
Gustavo Jacob Lourenço ◽  
Angelo Borsarelli Carvalho Brito ◽  
Victor Leal Vasconcelos ◽  
Marcos Vinicius Calfat Maldaun ◽  
...  

Angiogenesis, induced by the vascular endothelial growth factor A through its ligation to the vascular endothelial growth receptor 2, has been described as a crucial point in high-grade glioma development. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of VEGFA–2578C/A, −2489C/T, −1154G/A, −634G/C, and −460C/T, and KDR–604T/C, −271G/A, +1192G/A, and +1719A/T single-nucleotide polymorphisms on risk and clinicopathological aspects of high-grade glioma. This case–control study enrolled 205 high-grade glioma patients and 205 controls. Individuals with VEGFA–2578 CC or CA, VEGFA–1154 GG, VEGFA–634 GC or CC, and VEGFA–460 CT or TT genotypes were under 2.56, 1.53, 1.54, and 1.84 increased risks of high-grade glioma, compared to others, respectively. And 1.61, 2.66, 2.52, 2.53, and 2.02 increased risks of high-grade glioma were seen in individuals with VEGFA–2578 CC plus VEGFA–1154 GG, VEGFA–2578 CC or CA plus VEGFA–634 GC or CC, VEGFA–2578 CC or CA plus VEGFA–460 CT or TT, VEGFA–1154 GG or GA plus VEGFA–634 GC or CC, and VEGFA 634 GC or CC plus VEGFA–460 CT or TT combined genotypes, respectively, when compared to others. The “CAGT” haplotype of KDR single-nucleotide polymorphisms was more common in patients with grade IV than in those with grade III tumors, and individuals carrying this haplotype were at 1.76 increased risk of developing grade IV tumors than others. We present, for the first time, preliminary evidence that VEGFA–2578C/A and VEGFA–1154G/A single-nucleotide polymorphisms increases high-grade glioma risk, and “CAGT” haplotype of the KDR gene alters high-grade glioma aggressiveness and risk of grade IV tumors in Brazil.


2010 ◽  
Vol 34 (8) ◽  
pp. S75-S75
Author(s):  
Weifeng Zhu ◽  
Zhuoqi Liu ◽  
Daya Luo ◽  
Xinyao Wu ◽  
Fusheng Wan

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