title: Genetic structure of Plasmodium vivax isolates from two malaria endemic areas in Afghanistan.
abstract: In this study, the nature and extent of genetic diversity of Plasmodium vivax populations circulating in Afghanistan have been investigated by analyzing three genetic markers: csp, msp-1, and msp-3 alpha. Blood samples (n=202) were collected from patients presenting with vivax malaria from south-western (Herat) and south-eastern (Nangarhar) parts of Afghanistan, and analysed using nested-PCR/RFLP and sequencing methods. Genotyping pvmsp-1 revealed type 1, type 2 and recombinant type 3 allelic variants, with type 1 predominant in parasites in both study areas. The sequence analysis of 57 P. vivax isolates identified a total of 26 distinct alleles. Genotyping pvcsp gene showed that VK210 type (86.6%) is predominant in Afghanistan. Moreover, three major types of the pvmsp-3 alpha locus: type A, type B and type C were distinguished among Afghani isolates. The predominant fragments among Nangarhar and Herat parasites were type A (70.8% and 67.9%, respectively). PCR/RFLP products with Hha I and Alu I were detected 52 and 38 distinct variants among Nangarhar and Herat isolates, respectively. These results strongly indicate that the P. vivax populations in Afghanistan are highly diverse.
authors.affiliation: Malaria and Vector Research Group, Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran. zakeris@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Sedigheh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zakeri
authors.forename: Najibullah
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Safi
authors.forename: Mandana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Afsharpad
authors.forename: Waqar
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Butt
authors.forename: Faezeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ghasemi
authors.forename: Akram Abouie
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Mehrizi
authors.forename: Hoda
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Atta
authors.forename: Ghasem
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zamani
authors.forename: Navid Dinparast
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Djadid
mesh_terms: D000346:Afghanistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D016780:Malaria, Vivax / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology*; D008297:Male; D020066:Merozoite Surface Protein 1 / Q000235:genetics; D010966:Plasmodium vivax / Q000235:genetics*; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D020066:Merozoite Surface Protein 1; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; C089133:merozoite surface protein 3, Plasmodium