Using Mitochondrial Genome Sequences to Track the Origin of Imported Plasmodium vivax Infections Diagnosed in the United States

Author(s)

Rodrigues, Priscila T. ^[1] ; Alves, Joao Marcelo P. ^[1] ; Maria Santamaria, Ana ^[2] ; Calzada, Jose E. ^[2] ; Xayavong, Maniphet ^[3] ; Parise, Monica ^[3] ; da Silva, Alexandre J. ^[3] ; Ferreira, Marcelo U. ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Biomed Sci, Dept Parasitol, BR-05508900 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Gorgas Mem Inst Hlth, Dept Parasitol, Panama City - Panama

^[3] Ctr Dis Control & Prevent, Ctr Global Hlth, Div Parasit Dis & Malaria, Atlanta, GA - USA

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene; v. 90, n. 6, p. 1102-1108, JUN 2014.
• Web of Science Citations: 16

Abstract

Although the geographic origin of malaria cases imported into the United States can often be inferred from travel histories, these histories may be lacking or incomplete. We hypothesized that mitochondrial haplotypes could provide region-specific molecular barcodes for tracing the origin of imported Plasmodium vivax infections. An analysis of 348 mitochondrial genomes from worldwide parasites and new sequences from 69 imported malaria cases diagnosed across the United States allowed for a geographic assignment of most infections originating from the Americas, southeast Asia, east Asia, and Melanesia. However, mitochondrial lineages from Africa, south Asia, central Asia, and the Middle East, which altogether contribute the vast majority of imported malaria cases in the United States, were closely related to each other and could not be reliably assigned to their geographic origins. More mitochondrial genomes are required to characterize molecular barcodes of P. vivax from these regions. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 10/50333-8 - Population dynamics of Plasmodium vivax polymorphisms in rural Brazilian Amazonia
• Grantee: Marcelo Urbano Ferreira
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants