Genetic structure of Plasmodium falciparum populations between lowland and highland sites and antimalarial drug resistance in Western Kenya.

摘要: Human travel to malaria endemic lowlands from epidemic highlands has been shown increase the risk of infections in highlands. In order gain insight on impact human travel, we examined prevalence, genetic variability and population structure Plasmodium falciparum asymptomatic children one highland site three surrounding lowland sites Western Kenya, using multilocus microsatellite genotyping. We further analyzed frequencies mutations at genes conferring resistance chloroquine sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine. found a significant decrease prevalence 2006 2007, 1 year after introduction artemisinin-based combination therapy as first-line treatment for uncomplicated scale-up insecticide-treated bed nets. Population diversity, measured by number observed effective alleles Nei's unbiased was high comparable both populations. Analysis molecular variance did not detect across regions. Similarly, key antimalarial-resistance codons pfcrt, pfmdr1, pfdhfr pfdhps were all four sites. High level gene flow lack parasites between areas suggest importance shaping parasite structure.