title: Genetic diversity and structure of African Plasmodium falciparum populations in urban and rural areas.
abstract: The genetic variability and population structure of Plasmodium falciparum are key factors in malaria control strategies. Studies have suggested no P. falciparum population structure although linkage disequilibrium was observed in some African areas. We have assessed length polymorphism at 6-22 microsatellites in four urban and rural sites (Djibouti, Dakar, Niamey, and Zouan-Hounien, n = 240 blood samples). Results have shown a P. falciparum population structure in Africa (Fst = 0.17-0.24), lower genetic diversity in Djibouti (He = 0.53) than in the other sites (He = 0.73-0.76), and 3) significant linkage disequilibrium in Djibouti. These results could be related to geographic isolation and low flow of parasites between sites. They also suggest a potential effect of rural suburbs to generate genetic diversity in towns. This could affect the dispersal of selected drug resistance and should be considered when adapting urban malaria control strategies.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Médecine Tropicale du Service de Santé des Armées, Unité de Recherche en Biologie et Epidémiologie Parasitaire, Marseille, France. hervebogreau@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: Hervé
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bogreau
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Renaud
authors.forename: Housem
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bouchiba
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Durand
authors.forename: Serge-Brice
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Assi
authors.forename: Marie-Claire
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Henry
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Garnotel
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pradines
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fusai
authors.forename: Boubacar
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wade
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Adehossi
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Parola
authors.forename: Mohamed Ali
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Kamil
authors.forename: Odile
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Puijalon
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rogier
mesh_terms: D000349:Africa; D000818:Animals; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000737:chemistry; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000235:genetics*; D005838:Genotype; D005843:Geography; D006801:Humans; D015810:Linkage Disequilibrium / Q000235:genetics; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000097:blood / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats / Q000235:genetics; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012424:Rural Population; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers