Resumen

CHINCHILLA, MISAEL; GUERRERO, OLGA MARTA; GUTIERREZ, GUSTAVO  y  SANCHEZ, RONALD. Plasmodium brasilianum (APICOMPLEXA, PLASMODIDAE) IN THE CONGO MONKEY Alouatta brasilianum (PRIMATE: CEBIDAE) OF COSTA RICA: EPIDEMIOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE RELATED TO HUMAN. Parasitol. latinoam. [online]. 2006, vol.61, n.3-4, pp. 192-196. ISSN 0717-7712.  doi: 10.4067/S0717-77122006000200018.

Plasmodium brasilianum, a malaria parasite of Primates, was found for the first time in Costa Rica in 6 of 104 howler monkeys (Alouatta palliata) studied. Animals were captured and anaesthesied with dards containing equal parts of tiletamine hidrochloride and Zolazepam (Zoletil®). To study blood parasites, smears were prepared, fixed in methyl alcohol and stained by Giemsa technique. Young and advanced trofozoites (band forms) as well as gametocytes and squizonts ("rosseta" forms) were found. Since this parasite is very similar to P. malariae, a human parasite that has been found in Costa Rica, the presence of P. brasilianum is discussed on the epidemiological point of view

Palabras clave : Apicomplexa; Plasmodium brasilianum; Plasmodium malariae; Alouatta palliata; howler monkey.