Studies on a newly isolated strain of Plasmodium brasilianum in Aotus and Saimiri monkeys and different anophelines.

A strain of Plasmodium brasilianum was isolated from an Aotus vociferans monkey from Peru. The parasite readily infected Aotus monkeys from Bolivia and Columbia and Saimiri sciureus monkeys from Peru and Bolivia. Highest level mosquito infections were obtained by feeding on the Saimiri monkeys. The most susceptible mosquito was Anopheles freeborni, followed by Anopheles dirus, Anopheles stephensi, Anopheles gambiae, Anopheles culicifacies, Anopheles maculatus and Anopheles albimanus. Anopheles quadrimaculatus were also susceptible to infection. Degenerating oocysts were observed in An. dirus mosquitoes infected with this parasite. Transmission via the bites of infected An. maculatus mosquitoes was obtained to 3 Bolivian Saimiri monkeys; prepatent periods were 27, 27, and 29 days.