High degree of Plasmodium vivax diversity in the Peruvian Amazon demonstrated by tandem repeat polymorphism analysis

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2012 Apr;86(4):580-6. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.2012.11-0627.

Abstract

Molecular tools to distinguish strains of Plasmodium vivax are important for studying the epidemiology of malaria transmission. Two sets of markers-tandem repeat (TR) polymorphisms and MSP3α-were used to study Plasmodium vivax in patients in the Peruvian Amazon region of Iquitos. Of 110 patients, 90 distinct haplotypes were distinguished using 9 TR markers. An MSP3α polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) using HhaI and AluI revealed 8 and 9 profiles, respectively, and 36 profiles when analyzed in combination. Combining TR and PCR-RFLP markers, 101 distinct molecular profiles were distinguished among these 110 patients. Nine TR markers arrayed along a 100 kB stretch of a P. vivax chromosome containing the gene for circumsporozoite protein showed non-linear linkage disequilibrium (I(SA) = 0.03, P = 0.001). These findings demonstrate the potential use of TR markers for molecular epidemiology studies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • DNA, Protozoan / genetics*
  • Genetic Markers
  • Haplotypes
  • Humans
  • Linkage Disequilibrium
  • Malaria, Vivax / epidemiology*
  • Malaria, Vivax / transmission
  • Peru / epidemiology
  • Plasmodium vivax / genetics*
  • Plasmodium vivax / growth & development
  • Plasmodium vivax / isolation & purification
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Polymorphism, Genetic*
  • Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length
  • Protozoan Proteins / genetics*
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Tandem Repeat Sequences / genetics*

Substances

  • DNA, Protozoan
  • Genetic Markers
  • Protozoan Proteins