Population genetic structure and cladistic analysis of Trypanosoma brucei isolates.
Using a novel multilocus DNA marker analysis method, we studied the population genetic structure of Trypansoma brucei stocks and derived clones isolated from animal and rhodesiense sleeping sickness patients during a national sleeping sickness control program in Mukono district, Uganda. We then performed a cladistic analysis to trace relationships and evolution, using stocks and clones recovered from geographically and temporally matched hosts, including inter-strain comparisons with T. b. gambiense stocks and clones. Our results show that while there was close genetic relatedness among parasite populations from the same geographical region, micro-heterogeneities exist between different stocks. Data are presented that indicate that not every human sleeping sickness focus may be associated with a particular human-infective trypanosome strain responsible for long-term stability of the reference focus. We provide evidence of genetic sub-structuring among type 1 T. b. gambiense stocks, which has potentially important implications for molecular epidemiology of T. brucei.
Agbo
Eddy Chukwura
EC
Division of Animal Sciences, Institute for Animal Science and Health, ID-Lelystad, Edelhertweg 15, 8200 AB Lelystad, The Netherlands. e.e.c.agbo@id.wag-ur.nl
Clausen
Peter-Henning
PH
Büscher
Philippe
P
Majiwa
Phelix A O
PA
Claassen
Eric
E
te Pas
Marinus F W
MF
D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D005828:Genetics, Population; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D006801:Humans; D008957:Models, Genetic; D010802:Phylogeny; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D014346:Trypanosoma brucei brucei / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014353:Trypanosomiasis, African / Q000469:parasitology; D014454:Uganda