Fragmented Population Structure of Plasmodium falciparum in a Region of Declining Endemicity
Background. The population genetic structure of Plasmodium falciparum differs between endemic regions, but the characteristics of a population recently fragmented by effective malaria control have been unknown. Methods. Genotypic analysis of 10 microsatellite loci widely separated in the parasite...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
The University of Chicago
2005
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/15809/ http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/15809/1/Fragmented%20Population%20Structure%20of%20Plasmodium%20%28abstract%29.pdf |
| Summary: | Background. The population genetic structure of Plasmodium falciparum differs between endemic regions,
but the characteristics of a population recently fragmented by effective malaria control have been unknown.
Methods. Genotypic analysis of 10 microsatellite loci widely separated in the parasite genome was conducted
on 288 P. falciparum isolates from 8 foci in Malaysian Borneo, a region in which malaria incidence has been
progressively reduced.
Results. Within all P. falciparum foci, moderate levels of allelic diversity were found, but levels of multilocus
linkage disequilibrium were extremely variable. The population with the highest proportion of mixed-clone infections
also had the highest allelic diversity and nonsignificant linkage disequilibrium. In contrast, several populations
showed evidence of clonal expansion, and one offshore island population had exceptionally high levels
of linkage disequilibrium. Genetic differentiation between many populations was very high and strongly associated
with the geographical distance between them.
Conclusions. High levels of differentiation and contrasting population structure among P. falciparum populations
in Malaysian Borneo indicate that they are genetically independent. This supports the feasibility of individually
eradicating the remaining P. falciparum foci. |
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