title: Phylogeographic Evidence for 2 Genetically Distinct Zoonotic Plasmodium knowlesi Parasites, Malaysia.
abstract: Infections of humans with the zoonotic simian malaria parasite Plasmodium knowlesi occur throughout Southeast Asia, although most cases have occurred in Malaysia, where P. knowlesi is now the dominant malaria species. This apparently skewed distribution prompted an investigation of the phylogeography of this parasite in 2 geographically separated regions of Malaysia, Peninsular Malaysia and Malaysian Borneo. We investigated samples collected from humans and macaques in these regions. Haplotype network analyses of sequences from 2 P. knowlesi genes, type A small subunit ribosomal 18S RNA and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I, showed 2 genetically distinct divergent clusters, 1 from each of the 2 regions of Malaysia. We propose that these parasites represent 2 distinct P. knowlesi types that independently became zoonotic. These types would have evolved after the sea-level rise at the end of the last ice age, which separated Malaysian Borneo from Peninsular Malaysia.
authors.forename: Ruhani
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yusof
authors.forename: Md Atique
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: Jenarun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jelip
authors.forename: Hie Ung
authors.initials: HU
authors.lastname: Ngian
authors.forename: Sahlawati
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mustakim
authors.forename: Hani Mat
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Hussin
authors.forename: Mun Yik
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Fong
authors.forename: Rohela
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mahmud
authors.forename: Frankie Anak Thomas
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Sitam
authors.forename: J Rovie-Ryan
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Japning
authors.forename: Georges
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Snounou
authors.forename: Ananias A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Escalante
authors.forename: Yee Ling
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Lau
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000235:genetics; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D008251:Macaca; D008288:Malaria / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008296:Malaysia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008992:Monkey Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D016790:Plasmodium knowlesi / Q000235:genetics*; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S / Q000235:genetics; D015047:Zoonoses
chemical_list: D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV
keywords: Cytochrome oxidase 1; Malaysia; Malaysian Borneo; Peninsular Malaysia; Plasmodium knowlesi; Southeast Asia; biological evolution; genetic diversity; human; macaque; malaria; parasite; population genetics; ribosomal RNA; simian; zoonoses