Genetic diversity and multiple infections of Plasmodium vivax malaria in western Thailand

Liwang Cui, Carlye N. Mascorro, Qi Fan, Kimberly A. Rzomp, Benjawan Khuntirat, Guofa Zhou, Hong Chen, Guiyun Yan, Jetsumon Sattabongkot

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

131 Scopus citations

Abstract

Using two polymorphic genetic markers, the merozoite surface protein-3α (MSP-3α) and the circumsporozoite protein (CSP), we investigated the population diversity of Plasmodium vivax in Mae Sod, Thailand from April 2000 through June 2001. Genotyping the parasites isolated from 90 malaria patients attending two local clinics for the dimorphic CSP gene revealed that the majority of the parasites (77%) were the VK210 type. Genotyping the MSP3-α gene indicated that P. vivax populations exhibited an equally high level of polymorphism as those from Papua New Guinea, a hyperendemic region. Based on the length of polymerase chain reaction products, three major types of the MSP-3α locus were distinguished, with frequencies of 74.8%, 18.7%, and 6.5%, respectively. The 13 alleles distinguished by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis did not show a significant seasonal variation in frequency. Genotyping the MSP-3α and CSP genes showed that 19.3% and 25.6% of the patients had multiple infections, respectively, and the combined rate was 35.6%. Comparisons of MSP-3α sequences from nine clones further confirmed the high level of genetic diversity of the parasite and also suggested that geographic isolation may exist. These results strongly indicate that P. vivax populations are highly diverse and multiple clonal infections are common in this malaria-hypoendemic region of Thailand.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)613-619
Number of pages7
JournalAmerican Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Volume68
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2003

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Parasitology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Virology

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