title: Genetic diversity of Plasmodium falciparum and its relationship to parasite density in an area with different malaria endemicities in West Uganda.
abstract: Field populations of Plasmodium falciparum can be effectively genotyped by PCR-amplification of selected fragments of the Merozoite Surface Proteins 1 and 2 (MSP1 and MSP2). Genetic diversity of P. falciparum populations in areas with different transmission levels (holo- vs. mesoendemic) was investigated in Kabarole District, West Uganda. 225 samples positive for P. falciparum were analysed by amplification of polymorphic regions and classified according to prevalence of allelic families. A large number of alleles was detected for each locus: 22 for MSP1 block 2 and 24 for MSP2 and, 175 (78%) of MSP1 alleles and 143 (64%) of MSP2 showed multiple infections within a range of 2-8 clones. Significant differences between holoendemic and mesoendemic areas in regards of population structure and number of multiclonal infections of P. falciparum were not apparent. However, a significant correlation between parasite density, selected MSP2 loci and differences between parasite density in monoclonal vs. multiclonal infections occurred. Multiplicity of infection was age-dependent.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, University of Munich, Germany. peyerl@lrz.uni-muenchen.de
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Peyerl-Hoffmann
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jelinek
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kilian
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kabagambe
authors.forename: W G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Metzger
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: von Sonnenburg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D014454:Uganda / Q000453:epidemiology