Author:
Wang Xun,Bai Yao,Xiang Zheng,Zeng Weilin,Wu Yanrui,Zhao Hui,Zhao Wei,Chen Xi,Duan Mengxi,Li Xiaosong,Zhu Wenya,Sun Kemin,Wu Yiman,Zhang Yanmei,Li Xiaomei,Rosenthal Benjamin M.,Cui Liwang,Yang Zhaoqing
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Parasite diversity and population structure influence malaria control measures. Malaria transmission at international borders affects indigenous residents and migrants, defying management efforts and resulting in malaria re-introduction. Here we aimed to determine the extent and distribution of genetic variations in Plasmodium vivax populations and the complexity of infections along the China–Myanmar border.
Methods
We collected clinical P. vivax samples from local and migrant malaria patients from Laiza and Myitsone, Kachin State, Myanmar, respectively. We characterized the polymorphisms in two P. vivax merozoite surface protein markers, Pvmsp-3α and Pvmsp-3β, by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR–RFLP) analysis. We sought to determine whether these genetic markers could differentiate these two neighboring parasite populations.
Results
PCR revealed three major size variants for Pvmsp-3α and four for Pvmsp-3β among the 370 and 378 samples, respectively. PCR–RFLP resolved 26 fragment-size alleles by digesting Pvmsp-3α with Alu I and Hha I and 28 alleles by digesting Pvmsp-3β with Pst I. PCR–RFLP analysis of Pvmsp-3α found that infections in migrant laborers from Myitsone bore more alleles than did infections in residents of Laiza, while such difference was not evident from genotyping Pvmsp-3β. Infections originating from these two places contained distinct but overlapping subpopulations of P. vivax. Infections from Myitsone had a higher multiplicity of infection as judged by the size of the Pvmsp-3α amplicons and alleles after Alu I/Hha I digestion.
Conclusions
Migrant laborers from Myitsone and indigenous residents from Laiza harbored overlapping but genetically distinct P. vivax parasite populations. The results suggested a more diverse P. vivax population in Myitsone than in the border town of Laiza. PCR–RFLP of Pvmsp-3α offers a convenient method to determine the complexity of P. vivax infections and differentiate parasite populations.
Funder
National Institute of Nursing Research
Applied Basic Research Foundation of Yunnan Province
Guangxi Overseas High‐level Talent “Hundred People Program”
Education Department Fund of Yunnan Province
Innovation Experiment Project of Yunnan Province
Kunming Medical University
USDA project
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Subject
Infectious Diseases,Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health