Aotus infulatus Monkey is Susceptible to Plasmodium falciparum Infection and May Constitute an Alternative Experimental Model for Malaria

Abstract

Aotus is one of the WHO-recommended primate models for studies in malaria, and several species can be infected with Plasmodium falciparum or P. vivax. Here we describe the successful infection of the species A. infulatus from eastern Amazon with blood stages of P. falciparum. Both intact and splenectomized animals were susceptible to infection: the intact ones were able to keep parasitemias at lower levels for several days, but developed complications such as severe anemia: splenectomized monkeys developed higher parasitemias but no major complications. We conclude that A. infulatus is susceptible to P. falciparum infection and may represent an alternative model for studies in malaria.