Genetic component to susceptibility to Trichuris trichiura: evidence from two Asian populations.
Trichuris trichiura is an helminthic infection with potentially severe health consequences. The hypothesis that host genetic factors can account for the distribution of Trichuris was tested using familial data on egg counts available for two populations, the Jirels of Nepal and the population of Jishan Island in Jiangxi Province of the People's Republic of China. Whipworm is highly prevalent in the Jishan Island population (86%), but occurs at a low rate in the Jirel population (14%). A quantitative genetic analysis was performed on each data set, using a variance component approach. Approximately 28% of the variation in Trichuris trichiura loads was attributable to genetic factors in both populations. Common household effects accounted for only 4% of the variation in the Jirels and none of the variation in the Jishan Island population. These concordant results from two separate populations provide strong evidence of the important role of genetics in determining differential susceptibility to whipworm infection.
Williams-Blangero
Sarah
S
Department of Genetics, Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research, San Antonio, Texas 78245-0549, USA. sarah@darwin.sfbr.org
McGarvey
Stephen T
ST
Subedi
Janardan
J
Wiest
Peter M
PM
Upadhayay
Ram Prasad
RP
Rai
Dev R
DR
Jha
Bharat
B
Olds
G Richard
GR
Guanling
Wu
W
Blangero
John
J
D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D008297:Male; D009390:Nepal / Q000453:epidemiology; D010641:Phenotype; D014257:Trichuriasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*