IJOH Vol.11 No. 1 (January-June) Article - 3
Research Article
International Journal of One Health, 11(1): 27-33
https://doi.org/10.14202/IJOH.2025.27-33
Malaria infection of endemic primates in the Buton Utara Wildlife Sanctuary, Indonesia: Potential for transmission to humans
2. Eijkman Research Center for Molecular Biology, National Research and Innovation Agency, Cibinong, Indonesia.
3. Doctoral Program in Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia.
4. Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Hasanuddin, Makassar, Indonesia.
5. Doctoral Program in Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Indonesia, Depok, Indonesia.
6. Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Animal Husbandry, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia.
7. Malaria and Vector Resistance Laboratory, Hasanuddin University Medical Research Center, Makassar, Indonesia.
^Deceased
Background and Aim: Zoonotic malaria is an emerging public health challenge in Indonesia, exacerbated by deforestation and increased interaction between humans and non-human primates (NHPs). This study aimed to estimate malaria prevalence in NHPs within the Buton Utara Wildlife Sanctuary (BUWS) and evaluates the potential risk of zoonotic malaria transmission to nearby human populations.
Materials and Methods: Epidemiologic surveys were conducted from 2020 to 2021 in BUWS. Macaca brunnescens, the endemic NHP species, were captured using traps. Blood samples were collected and analyzed through microscopy and molecular techniques to detect Plasmodium species. DNA extraction, mitochondrial DNA barcoding, and polymerase chain reaction were used for species identification and phylogenetic analysis. Human populations residing near BUWS were also screened for malaria via blood smear and DNA analysis.
Results: Among the 26 Macaca brunnescens sampled, Plasmodium infections were identified in 50%, including Plasmodium inui, Plasmodium cynomolgi, and Plasmodium simiovale, with one mixed infection. Phylogenetic analyses confirmed the presence of these species. Notably, no Plasmodium knowlesi, a prevalent zoonotic malaria agent in Southeast Asia, was detected. Human malaria screening revealed no zoonotic infections but identified a single case of non-zoonotic malaria linked to travel outside the region.
Conclusion: The high prevalence of Plasmodium species in NHPs highlights the potential for zoonotic malaria transmission in BUWS. Although no zoonotic cases were detected among humans, continuous surveillance of NHPs, mosquito vectors, and human populations is essential. Conservation efforts and public health initiatives should focus on mitigating the risks associated with increased human-primate interaction.
Keywords: Buton Utara Wildlife Sanctuary, Indonesia, Macaca brunnescens, non-human primates, Plasmodium species, zoonotic malaria.
How to cite this article: Lempang MEP, Permana DH, Asih PBS, Wangsamuda S, Dewayanti FK, Rozi IE, Setiadi W, Syahrani L, Muslimin L, Malaka R, and Syafruddin D (2025) Malaria infection of endemic primates in the Buton Utara Wildlife Sanctuary, Indonesia: Potential for transmission to humans, Int. J. One Health, 11(1): 27-33.
Received: 03-10-2024 Accepted: 15-01-2025 Published online: 12-02-2025
Corresponding author: E-mail:
DOI: 10.14202/IJOH.2025.27-33
Copyright: Lempang, et al. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/ by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http:// creativecommons.org/ publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated.
