Trypanosoma brucei gambiense Type 1 populations from human patients are clonal and display geographical genetic differentiation

Liam J Morrison, Andy Tait, Gillian McCormack, Lindsay Sweeney, Alana Black, Philippe Truc, Anne C L Likeufack, C Michael Turner, Annette MacLeod

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

We have rigorously tested the hypothesis that Trypanosoma brucei gambiense Type 1 is composed of genetically homogenous populations by examining the parasite population present in Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) patients from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Cameroon (CAM). We amplified eight microsatellite markers by PCR directly from blood spots on FTA filters, thereby avoiding the significant parasite selection inherent in the traditional isolation techniques of rodent inoculation or in vitro culture. All microsatellite markers were polymorphic, although for four markers there was only polymorphism between the DRC and CAM populations, not within populations, suggesting very limited genetic exchange. Within the largest population from the DRC, Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium is not evident at any loci. This evidence suggests a clonal population. However, there was significant sub-structuring between the DRC and CAM samples (F(ST) = 0.32), indicating that Trypanosoma brucei gambiense Type 1 has genetically distinct clades. The data combine to indicate that genetic exchange plays a very limited role. The finding of distinct clades in different places suggests the possibility that samples from humans with clinical signs represent clonal expansions from an underlying population that requires identifying and characterising.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)847-54
Number of pages8
JournalInfection, Genetics and Evolution
Volume8
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2008

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