Study on interaction between ungulate malaria parasites and other haemopathogens : functional analysis and its application for disease control

Malaria is a bloodstream microbial disease transmitted by mosquitoes and caused by Plasmodium genus protozoa parasitic on host red blood cells, and human malaria is known as one of the three major infectious diseases. However, the existence of malaria parasites that parasitize even-toed ungulates was largely unknown until the applicants conducted epidemiological studies. The applicants conducted an international epidemiological survey of artiodactyl malaria and clarified that buffalo and goat malaria parasites are frequently parasitized in countries around the world without showing pathogenicity. Furthermore, from a study of Iranian goats, it was found that individuals infected with malaria parasites were significantly less infected with Piroplasma (protozoa) and Anaplasma (bacteria). This year, a survey was conducted on buffaloes in Thailand, and mosquitoes were collected in addition to investigating the chronological status of malaria infection and clinical symptoms. DNA was extracted from several mosquito head samples, and DNA was detected from mosquitoes of the genus Anopheles by PCR. DNA was detected in A. wejchoochotei or A. campestris samples as well as A. peditaeniatus samples, suggesting that these mosquitoes are vectors of Buffalo malaria parasite.

Project details

Basic Science

Oct 2021 — Mar 2025

$161,692

Japan