METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Anopheles spp. were sampled using human landing catch (HLC) method at Paradason village in Kudat district of Sabah. The collected Anopheles were identified morphologically and then subjected to total DNA extraction and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect Plasmodium parasites in the mosquitoes. Identification of Plasmodium spp. was confirmed by sequencing the SSU rRNA gene with species specific primers. MEGA4 software was then used to analyse the SSU rRNA sequences and bulid the phylogenetic tree for inferring the relationship between simian malaria parasites in Sabah. PCR results showed that only 1.61% (23/1,425) of the screened An. balabacensis were infected with one or two of the five simian Plasmodium spp. found in Sabah, viz. Plasmodium coatneyi, P. inui, P. fieldi, P. cynomolgi and P. knowlesi. Sequence analysis of SSU rRNA of Plasmodium isolates showed high percentage of identity within the same Plasmodium sp. group. The phylogenetic tree based on the consensus sequences of P. knowlesi showed 99.7%-100.0% nucleotide identity among the isolates from An. balabacensis, human patients and a long-tailed macaque from the same locality.
CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: This is the first study showing high molecular identity between the P. knowlesi isolates from An. balabacensis, human patients and a long-tailed macaque in Sabah. The other common simian Plasmodium spp. found in long-tailed macaques and also detected in An. balabacensis were P. coatneyi, P. inui, P. fieldi and P. cynomolgi. The high percentage identity of nucleotide sequences between the P. knowlesi isolates from the long-tailed macaque, An. balabacensis and human patients suggests a close genetic relationship between the parasites from these hosts.
CASE PRESENTATION: A male patient, aged 27, presented with a complaint of unerupted two maxillary front teeth. This resulted in the displacement of adjacent teeth into the vacant region. An intraoral examination revealed a Class II molars on both sides, a deep curve of the space with a 2.3 mm overjet, and an edge-to-edge bite of 0.1 mm. The 3D cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging unveiled a labial impacted and a rotation of approximately 90 degrees (horizontal impacted) on both central maxillary incisors.
DISCUSSION: The self-ligating bracket was installed and orthodontic traction aligned the affected tooth in the dental arch. To reach the labial surface of the impacted incisor, open surgical exposure by window excision of soft tissues with a laser was preferable due to the large bulge in the sulcus. Because self-ligating bracket systems employed modest pressures to position the maxillary right central incisor in the arch, the window surgical technique did not produce gingival scarring or increased clinical crown length.
CONCLUSION: The impacted upper central incisor was successfully treated using a collaborative interdisciplinary (surgical-orthodontic) approach, which resulted in a favorable aesthetic and functional outcome.