The mitochondrial genome sequence of the Bornean orang-utan (Pongo pygmaeus) malaria parasite, Plasmodium pitheci

This study presents the complete mitochondrial genome sequence of Plasmodium pitheci, a malaria parasite that infects Bornean orang-utans (Pongo pygmaeus). The mitochondrial genome spans 5871 bp in length encoding all essential mitochondrial genes in a conserved arrangement typical of Plasmodium species. Using Bayesian phylogenetic analyses, the evolutionary relationships of P. pitheci with other Plasmodium species that infect non-human primates were investigated. Findings of this study confirm that the previously identified Plasmodium sp. VM and VS and Plasmodium sp. Pongo clade A and clade B from orang-utans correspond to P. pitheci. However, the taxonomic classification of Plasmodium sp. Pongo clade C remains unresolved. The detection of P. pitheci infections in orang-utans across Borneo provides insights into the parasite's geographic distribution. This genomic information contributes to a deeper understanding of P. pitheci and its evolutionary relationship with other malaria parasites. Comparative genomics with other Plasmodium species, including those infecting humans, will deepen the general understanding of malaria's evolutionary pathways. Furthermore, the availability of the complete mitochondrial genome of this parasite provides a foundation for developing species-specific molecular diagnostic tools. These tools will improve malaria diagnosis in orang-utans, assist in conservation efforts, and potentially aid in zoonotic malaria control strategies for humans in regions where cross-species transmission is a concern.