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High levels of genetic diversity of Plasmodium falciparum populations in Papua New Guinea despite variable infection prevalence

journal contribution
posted on 2013-04-03, 00:00 authored by Alyssa BarryAlyssa Barry, L Schultz, N Senn, J Nale, B Kiniboro, P M Siba, I Mueller, J C Reeder
High levels of genetic diversity in Plasmodium falciparum populations are an obstacle to malaria control. Here, we investigate the relationship between local variation in malaria epidemiology and parasite genetic diversity in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Cross-sectional malaria surveys were performed in 14 villages spanning four distinct malaria-endemic areas on the north coast, including one area that was sampled during the dry season. High-resolution msp2 genotyping of 2,147 blood samples identified 761 P. falciparum infections containing a total of 1,392 clones whose genotypes were used to measure genetic diversity. Considerable variability in infection prevalence and mean multiplicity of infection was observed at all of the study sites, with the area sampled during the dry season showing particularly striking local variability. Genetic diversity was strongly associated with multiplicity of infection but not with infection prevalence. In highly endemic areas, differences in infection prevalence may not translate into a decrease in parasite population diversity. Copyright © 2013 by The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.

History

Journal

American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

Volume

88

Issue

4

Pagination

718 - 725

Publisher

American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

Location

[Northbrook, Ill.]

ISSN

0002-9637

Language

eng

Publication classification

C1.1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal