Low MSP-1 haplotype diversity in the West Palearctic population of the avian malaria parasite Plasmodium relictum

Abstract Background Although avian Plasmodium species are widespread and common across the globe, limited data exist on how genetically variable their populations are. Here, the hypothesis that the avian blood parasite Plasmodium relictum exhibits very low genetic diversity in its Western Palearctic...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Malaria Journal
Main Authors: Olof Hellgren, Victor Kelbskopf, Vincenzo A. Ellis, Arif Ciloglu, Mélanie Duc, Xi Huang, Ricardo J. Lopes, Vanessa A. Mata, Sargis A. Aghayan, Abdullah Inci, Sergei V. Drovetski
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: BMC 2021
Subjects:
Avian malaria
Haemosporida
Host specificity
Merozoite surface protein 1
Parasite population structure
Plasmodium relictum
Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine
RC955-962
Infectious and parasitic diseases
RC109-216
Arctic
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-021-03799-8
https://doaj.org/article/10b3e94cd807400da45c535f9ce3ad63
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Summary:Abstract Background Although avian Plasmodium species are widespread and common across the globe, limited data exist on how genetically variable their populations are. Here, the hypothesis that the avian blood parasite Plasmodium relictum exhibits very low genetic diversity in its Western Palearctic transmission area (from Morocco to Sweden in the north and Transcaucasia in the east) was tested. Methods The genetic diversity of Plasmodium relictum was investigated by sequencing a portion (block 14) of the fast-evolving merozoite surface protein 1 (MSP1) gene in 75 different P. relictum infections from 36 host species. Furthermore, the full-length MSP1 sequences representing the common block 14 allele was sequenced in order to investigate if additional variation could be found outside block 14. Results The majority (72 of 75) of the sequenced infections shared the same MSP1 allele. This common allele has previously been found to be the dominant allele transmitted in Europe. Conclusion The results corroborate earlier findings derived from a limited dataset that the globally transmitted malaria parasite P. relictum exhibits very low genetic diversity in its Western Palearctic transmission area. This is likely the result of a recent introduction event or a selective sweep.

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