Susceptibility of owl monkeys to Plasmodium falciparum in relation to hemoglobin and karyotype
Weller, R.E.; Baer, J.F.; Valentine, N.B.; Buschbom, R.L.; Ragan, H.A.; Malaga, C.A.
American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 46(3): 366-370
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-9637 PMID: 1558276 Document Number: 390770
Whether karyotypic variation in the owl monkey was expressed as differences in Hb moieties and if it offered a selective advantage in susceptibility to malaria was investigated. Five karyotypes of owl monkey were evaluated on the basis of the electrophoretic mobility of their major and minor Hb components. The results from 40 owl monkeys of different karyotypes demonstrated that statistically significant differences exist among karyotype I animals and those with karyotypes II, III and V, particularly with regard to their HbA2 concentrations. This finding is of interest in that karyotype I animals are considered to be less susceptible to infection with human strains of P. falciparum than karyotypes II, III and V, which are viewed as being highly susceptible.