Title
Trypanosoma cruzi infection of free-ranging lion-tailed macaques (Macaca silenus) and ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta) on St. Catherine's Island, Georgia, USA
Author(s)
Pung O.J., Spratt J., Clark C.G., Norton T.M., Carter J.
Published
1998
Publisher
Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine
Abstract
Free-ranging Old World primates released on St. Catherine's Island, Georgia (USA), were tested for infection with Trypanosoma cruzi as part of a study of the epizootiology of sylvatic T. cruzi in the southeastern USA. The parasite was observed in liver infusion tryptose medium cultures of blood from seven of 11 lion-tailed macaques (Macaca silenus) and one of 19 ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta). Cultures of blood from 10 black and white ruffed lemurs (Varecia variegata) were all negative. Analysis of small subunit ribosomal RNA gene polymorphisms detected using polymerase chain reaction techniques indicates that the parasites isolated from both the lion-tailed macaques and the ring-tailed lemur are probably the same as T. cruzi parasites isolated from raccoons (Procyon lotor) trapped on St. Catherine's Island and other locations in the southeastern USA. Foraging lion-tailed macaques were observed to handle and partially consume specimens of Triatoma sanguisuga, the triatomine bug thought to be a vector of T. cruzi in the southeastern USA. Oral transmission of the parasite may have occurred as a result of this behavior. Copyright 1998 by American Association of Zoo Veterinarians.
Keywords
protozoal DNA; protozoal RNA; ribosome DNA; ribosome RNA; animal; animal disease; article; Chagas disease; classification; culture medium; disease carrier; disease transmission; female; genetics; isolation and purification; Macaca; male; monkey disease; parasitemia; parasitology; polymerase chain reaction; primate disease; prosimian; Triatoma; Trypanosoma cruzi; United States; Animals; Chagas Disease; Culture Media; DNA, Protozoan; DNA, Ribosomal; Female; Georgia; Insect Vectors; Lemur; Macaca; Male; Monkey Diseases; Parasitemia; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Primate Diseases; RNA, Protozoan; RNA, Ribosomal; Triatoma; Trypanosoma cruzi
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PUB12884