Adaptation of the AMRU-1 strain of Plasmodium vivax to Aotus and Saimiri monkeys and to four species of anopheline mosquitoes

A chloroquine-resistant strain of Plasmodium vivax (AMRU-1) from Papua New Guinea has been adapted to grow in 4 species of Aotus monkeys (Aotus lemuri nus griseimembra, Aotus vociferanus, Aotus nancymai, and Aotus azarae boliv iensis), hybrid Aotus monkeys, and Saimiri boliviensis monkeys. Whereas it was possible to infect Saimiri monkeys with this parasite by inoculation of parasitized erythrocytes, only 42% of Saimiri monkeys became infected, com pared to 92% of Aotus monkeys attempted. Comparative mosquito feedings show ed that only A. vociferans, A. l. griseimembra, and Saimiri boliviensis mon keys produced infections in mosquitoes. Oocysts were observed on the guts o f the 4 species of mosquitoes used (Anopheles gambiae, Anopheles stephensi, A,Anopheles freeborni, and Anoplteles dirus), but sporozoite transmission was effected only with the intravenous inoculation of sporozoites from An. dirus into an A. l. griseimembra monkey.