BACKGROUND: Habitat types can affect vector and pathogen distribution and transmission dynamics. The prevalence and genetic diversity of Plasmodium spp. in two eastern chimpanzee populations-Kalinzu Forest Reserve, Uganda and Issa Valley, Tanzania-inhabiting different habitat types was investigated. As a follow up study the effect of host sex and age on infections patterns in Kalinzu Forest Reserve chimpanzees was determined. METHODS: Molecular methods were employed to detect Plasmodium DNA from faecal samples collected from savanna-woodland (Issa Valley) and forest (Kalinzu Forest Reserve) chimpanzee populations. RESULTS: Based on a Cytochrome-b PCR assay, 32 out of 160 Kalinzu chimpanzee faecal samples were positive for Plasmodium DNA, whilst no positive sample was detected in 171 Issa Valley chimpanzee faecal samples. Sequence analysis revealed that previously known Laverania species (Plasmodium reichenowi, Plasmodium billbrayi and Plasmodium billcollinsi) are circulating in the Kalinzu chimpanzees. A significantly higher proportion of young individuals were tested positive for infections, and switching of Plasmodium spp. was reported in one individual. Amongst the positive individuals sampled more than once, the success of amplification of Plasmodium DNA from faeces varied over sampling time. CONCLUSION: The study showed marked differences in the prevalence of malaria parasites among free ranging chimpanzee populations living in different habitats. In addition, a clear pattern of Plasmodium infections with respect to host age was found. The results presented in this study contribute to understanding the ecological aspects underlying the malaria infections in the wild. Nevertheless, integrative long-term studies on vector abundance, Plasmodium diversity during different seasons between sites would provide more insight on the occurrence, distribution and ecology of these pathogens.

• Klíčová slova
• Cyt-b gene, Laverania, Malaria, Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii, Plasmodium spp.,
• MeSH
• cytochromy b genetika   MeSH
• feces parazitologie   MeSH
• malárie epidemiologie   parazitologie   veterinární   MeSH
• nemoci primátů epidemiologie   parazitologie   MeSH
• Pan troglodytes * MeSH
• Plasmodium klasifikace   genetika   izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• prevalence MeSH
• protozoální DNA genetika   izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• protozoální proteiny genetika   MeSH
• sekvenční analýza DNA MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• srovnávací studie MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Tanzanie epidemiologie   MeSH
• Uganda epidemiologie   MeSH
• Názvy látek
• cytochromy b MeSH
• protozoální DNA MeSH
• protozoální proteiny MeSH

Human adenoviruses (HAdV; species HAdV-A to -G) are highly prevalent in the human population, and represent an important cause of morbidity and, to a lesser extent, mortality. Recent studies have identified close relatives of these viruses in African great apes, suggesting that some HAdV may be of zoonotic origin. We analyzed more than 800 fecal samples from wild African great apes and humans to further investigate the evolutionary history and zoonotic potential of hominine HAdV. HAdV-B and -E were frequently detected in wild gorillas (55%) and chimpanzees (25%), respectively. Bayesian ancestral host reconstruction under discrete diffusion models supported a gorilla and chimpanzee origin for these viral species. Host switches were relatively rare along HAdV evolution, with about ten events recorded in 4.5 My. Despite presumably rare direct contact between sympatric populations of the two species, transmission events from gorillas to chimpanzees were observed, suggesting that habitat and dietary overlap may lead to fecal-oral cross-hominine transmission of HAdV. Finally, we determined that two independent HAdV-B transmission events to humans occurred more than 100,000 years ago. We conclude that HAdV-B circulating in humans are of zoonotic origin and have probably affected global human health for most of our species lifetime.

• Klíčová slova
• African great apes, adenovirus, zoonosis,
• MeSH
• Adenoviridae * genetika   patogenita   MeSH
• adenovirové infekce * genetika   přenos   MeSH
• druhová specificita MeSH
• Hominidae virologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• molekulární evoluce * MeSH
• zoonózy genetika   přenos   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

Comparison of diagnostic methods for Plasmodium spp. in humans from Uganda and the Central African Republic showed that parasites can be efficiently detected by PCR in fecal samples. These results, which rely solely on PCR-based examination of feces, validate numerous estimates of the prevalence of malaria in great apes.

• MeSH
• cytochromy b genetika   MeSH
• diagnostické techniky molekulární MeSH
• feces parazitologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• Plasmodium falciparum genetika   izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• polymerázová řetězová reakce MeSH
• protozoální proteiny genetika   MeSH
• senzitivita a specificita MeSH
• tropická malárie diagnóza   parazitologie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• cytochromy b MeSH
• protozoální proteiny MeSH