A closer look at multiple-clone Plasmodium vivax infections: detection methods, prevalence and consequences
Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz
;
104(1): 67-73, Feb. 2009. ilus, graf, tab
Article
in English
| LILACS
| ID: lil-507209
ABSTRACT
The naturally occurring clonal diversity among field isolates of the major human malaria parasite Plasmodium vivax remained unexplored until the early 1990s, when improved molecular methods allowed the use of blood samples obtained directly from patients, without prior in vitro culture, for genotyping purposes. Here we briefly review the molecular strategies currently used to detect genetically distinct clones in patient-derived P. vivax samples, present evidence that multiple-clone P. vivax infections are commonly detected in areas with different levels of malaria transmission and discuss possible evolutionary and epidemiological consequences of the competition between genetically distinct clones in natural human infections. We suggest that, when two or more genetically distinct clones are present in the same host, intra-host competition for limited resources may select for P. vivax traits that represent major public health challenges, such as increased virulence, increased transmissibility and antimalarial drug resistance.
Full text:
Available
Index:
LILACS (Americas)
Main subject:
Plasmodium vivax
/
Malaria, Vivax
/
Microsatellite Repeats
Type of study:
Diagnostic study
/
Prevalence study
/
Risk factors
Limits:
Animals
/
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz
Journal subject:
Tropical Medicine
/
Parasitology
Year:
2009
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Brazil
Institution/Affiliation country:
Universidade de São Paulo/BR
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