Haemoprotozoan Parasites of Non-Human Primates in Kenya : Studies on Prevalence and Characterization of Haemoprotozoan Parasites of Wild-Caught Baboons, African Green Monkeys and Syke's Monkeys

This thesis reports on cross-sectional surveys aimed at detecting and characterizing haemoprotozoan parasites infecting wild free-ranging non human primates (NHPs) in Kenya, East Africa. Blood samples from olive baboons (Papio cynocephalus anubis), vervet monkeys or African green monkeys (AGMs, Chlorocebus aethiops) and Syke's monkeys (Cercopithecus mitis) from five provinces of Kenya were analyzed. The haemoprotozoan parasites survey was performed with microscopic evaluation of blood smears, serological techniques and molecular tools. Blood specimens and serum samples from 121 NHPs were tested for the presence of Trypanosoma brucei (Study I). Indirect antibody enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Ab-ELISA) detected titers of anti-T. brucei antibodies in 19% (23/121) of the sera sampled. Subsequent field-oriented latex agglutination test (LAT) detected presence of T. brucei antigens in 16% (19/121) of the sera. However, there were no active infections detected on fixed blood smears, or wet blood films. Of the 378 NHPs sera samples tested for Leishmania major exposure using Ab-ELISA, 66% had detectable anti-L. major antibodies (study II). Western blot (WB) assay detected anti-L. major antibodies in sera from 46% (175/378) of the NHPs samples. Specific proliferation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells to L. major antigen was demonstrated in 23% (17/57) of AGMs samples. Haemoprotozoan parasites, Entopolypoides macaci and Hepatocystis kochi were detected by microscopic evaluation of Giemsa-stained blood smears from 179 NHPs (study III). The prevalence rate of E. macaci was 43% in African green monkeys, 35% in Syke’s monkeys and 33% in baboons. H. kochi infection rate was 18% in African green monkeys, 23% in baboons and 25% in Syke’s monkeys. Subsequent indirect immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT) supported the morphologic appearance of E. macaci observed by microscopy. Molecular tools were used to detect and identify haemoprotozoan parasites in wild free-ranging NHPs (study IV). Nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting Babesia β-tubulin gene detected a 22% (27/125) B. microti infections in free-ranging NHPs in Kenya. PCR also detected 22% mixed infections by Hepatocystis and Entopolypoides, 12% Hepatocystis and Babesia and 7% Entopolypoides and Babesia (study V). Phylogenetic analysis inferred from mitochondrial cytochrome b (Cyt-b) gene confirmed the presence of Hepatocystis kochi whereas analysis of 18SS rRNA gene confirmed presence of two piroplasms, Babesia sp. and Entopolypoides macaci. In conclusion, epidemiological results from sero-prevalence studies provide strong circumstantial evidence that some species of Kenyan NHPs are naturally exposed to L. major and T. brucei infections and could be potential reservoir hosts for these haemoparasites. Molecular diagnosis revealed the occurrence of mixed parasite infections and confirmed the circulation of Babesia and Entopolypoides species in the same populations of Kenyan NHPs

Role of Grooming in Reducing Tick Load in Wild Baboons (Papio cynocephalus)

Nonhuman primate species spend a conspicuous amount of time grooming during social interactions, a behavior that probably serves both social and health-related functions. While the social implications of grooming have been relatively well studied, less attention has been paid to the health benefits, especially the removal of ectoparasites, which may act as vectors in disease transmission. In this study, we examined the relationship between grooming behavior, tick load (number of ticks), and haemoprotozoan infection status in a population of wild free-ranging baboons (Papio cynocephalus). We found that the amount of grooming received was influenced by an individual’s age, sex and dominance rank. The amount of grooming received, in turn, affected the tick load of an individual. Baboons with higher tick loads had lower packed red cell volume (PCV or haematocrit), one general measure of health status. We detected a tick-borne haemoprotozoan, Babesia microti, but its low prevalence in the population precluded identifying sources of variance in infection

Data from: Role of grooming in reducing tick load in wild baboons (Papio cynocephalus)

Nonhuman primate species spend a conspicuous amount of time grooming during social interactions, a behaviour that probably serves both social and health-related functions. While the social implications of grooming have been relatively well studied, less attention has been paid to the health benefits, especially the removal of ectoparasites, which may act as vectors in disease transmission. In this study, we examined whether grooming behaviour reduced tick load (number of ticks) and haemoprotozoan infection status in a population of wild adult baboons (Papio cynocephalus). We found that younger and higher-ranking adults were groomed more often than older, low-ranking adults, and females were groomed more often than males. Animals that received more grooming, in turn, had lower tick loads. Baboons with lower tick loads had higher packed red cell volume (PCV or haematocrit), one general measure of health status. We detected a tick-borne haemoprotozoan, Babesia microti, but its low prevalence in the population precluded identifying sources of variance in infection

Grooming and ectoparasite load in wild baboons.

This data set underlies results presented in Akinyi et al. 2013, Animal Behaviour, (Role of grooming in reducing tick load in wild baboons (Papio cynocephalus)). The study was conducted on adult members of a wild baboon population in Amboseli, southern Kenya. The data set includes demographic data on individual age, sex and group membership, as well as behavioural data on grooming and dominance rank. The dataset also includes tick counts and packed cell volume (PCV) analysis from baboons darted during darting and immobilization projects in 2007–2008. Subject numbers represent each individual data was collected for. Sex describes whether the individual was female (F) or male (M). Year darted indicates the year in which each individual was darted. Age describes each individual’s age (to the nearest year) at darting. Social group at darting categorises the group each individual belonged to at the time of darting and group size indicates the total number of individuals in the group during the six months that grooming data was retrieved. Grooming counts 6 months prior to darting contains the counts of grooming received by each study animal in the 6 months prior to their darting date. Mean PCV at darting is calculated from the average of two to three replicate PCV measurements were obtained per animal during darting. Adult and larvae tick counts are the number of ticks collected and counted from each individual. These data were extracted from the long-term relational database for the Amboseli Baboon Research Project, BABASE

Summary of parasites in a wild baboon population

This data set is a summary of the parasites collected for the study reported in Akinyi et al. 2013, Animal Behaviour, (Role of grooming in reducing tick load in wild baboons (Papio cynocephalus)). The table indicates the types of parasites encountered and their relative abundance in the darted individuals. The ectoparasites data are presented by the species of ticks collected and the number collected in each animal. The blood parasite data indicate the haemoparasites screened for by PCR and whether the individuals screened were positive or negative

Tsetse blood-meal sources, endosymbionts and trypanosome-associations in the Maasai Mara National Reserve, a wildlife-human-livestock interface

African trypanosomiasis (AT) is a neglected disease of both humans and animals caused by Trypanosoma parasites, which are transmitted by obligate hematophagous tsetse flies (Glossina spp.). Knowledge on tsetse fly vertebrate hosts and the influence of tsetse endosymbionts on trypanosome presence, especially in wildlife-human-livestock interfaces, is limited. We identified tsetse species, their blood-meal sources, and correlations between endosymbionts and trypanosome presence in tsetse flies from the trypanosome-endemic Maasai Mara National Reserve (MMNR) in Kenya. Among 1167 tsetse flies (1136 Glossina pallidipes, 31 Glossina swynnertoni) collected from 10 sampling sites, 28 (2.4%) were positive by PCR for trypanosome DNA, most (17/28) being of Trypanosoma vivax species. Blood-meal analyses based on high-resolution melting analysis of vertebrate cytochrome c oxidase 1 and cytochrome b gene PCR products (n = 354) identified humans as the most common vertebrate host (37%), followed by hippopotamus (29.1%), African buffalo (26.3%), elephant (3.39%), and giraffe (0.84%). Flies positive for trypanosome DNA had fed on hippopotamus and buffalo. Tsetse flies were more likely to be positive for trypanosomes if they had the Sodalis glossinidius endosymbiont (P = 0.0002). These findings point to complex interactions of tsetse flies with trypanosomes, endosymbionts, and diverse vertebrate hosts in wildlife ecosystems such as in the MMNR, which should be considered in control programs. These interactions may contribute to the maintenance of tsetse populations and/or persistent circulation of African trypanosomes. Although the African buffalo is a key reservoir of AT, the higher proportion of hippopotamus blood-meals in flies with trypanosome DNA indicates that other wildlife species may be important in AT transmission. No trypanosomes associated with human disease were identified, but the high proportion of human blood-meals identified are indicative of human African trypanosomiasis risk. Our results add to existing data suggesting that Sodalis endosymbionts are associated with increased trypanosome presence in tsetse flies

Protective Effect of Chronic Schistosomiasis in Baboons Coinfected with Schistosoma mansoni and Plasmodium knowlesi

Malaria and schistosomiasis coinfections are common, and chronic schistosomiasis has been implicated in affecting the severity of acute malaria. However, whether it enhances or attenuates malaria has been controversial due the lack of appropriately controlled human studies and relevant animal models. To examine this interaction, we conducted a randomized controlled study using the baboon (Papio anubis) to analyze the effect of chronic schistosomiasis on severe malaria. Two groups of baboons (n = 8 each) and a schistosomiasis control group (n = 3) were infected with 500 Schistosoma mansoni cercariae. At 14 and 15 weeks postinfection, one group was given praziquantel to treat schistosomiasis infection. Four weeks later, the two groups plus a new malaria control group (n = 8) were intravenously inoculated with 10(5) Plasmodium knowlesi parasites and monitored daily for development of severe malaria. A total of 81% of baboons exposed to chronic S. mansoni infection with or without praziquantel treatment survived malaria, compared to only 25% of animals infected with P. knowlesi only (P = 0.01). Schistosome-infected animals also had significantly lower parasite burdens (P = 0.004) than the baboons in the P. knowlesi-only group and were protected from severe anemia. Coinfection was associated with increased spontaneous production of interleukin-6 (IL-6), suggesting an enhanced innate immune response, whereas animals infected with P. knowlesi alone failed to develop mitogen-driven tumor necrosis factor alpha and IL-10, indicating the inability to generate adequate protective and balancing immunoregulatory responses. These results indicate that chronic S. mansoni attenuates the severity of P. knowlesi coinfection in baboons by mechanisms that may enhance innate immunity to malaria