Genetic population structure of the malaria vector Anopheles baimaii in north-east India using mitochondrial DNA

• Published in: Malaria Journal
• Main Authors: Sarma Devojit K, Prakash Anil, O'Loughlin Samantha M, Bhattacharyya Dibya R, Mohapatra Pradumnya K, Bhattacharjee Kanta, Das Kanika, Singh Sweta, Sarma Nilanju P, Ahmed Gias U, Walton Catherine, Mahanta Jagadish
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2012
• Subjects: Anopheles baimaii; Cytochrome oxidase II; Southeast Asia; Malaria vector; North-east India; Population genetics; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Infectious and parasitic diseases; RC109-216; Arctic; Indian
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2875-11-76; https://doaj.org/article/2088e37703314ba2b4175c8da65ed780

Abstract Background Anopheles baimaii is a primary vector of human malaria in the forest settings of Southeast Asia including the north-eastern region of India. Here, the genetic population structure and the basic population genetic parameters of An. baimaii in north-east India were estimated using DNA sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase sub unit II (COII) gene. Methods Anopheles baimaii were collected from 26 geo-referenced locations across the seven north-east Indian states and the COII gene was sequenced from 176 individuals across these sites. Fifty-seven COII sequences of An. baimaii from six locations in Bangladesh, Myanmar and Thailand from a previous study were added to this dataset. Altogether, 233 sequences were grouped into eight population groups, to facilitate analyses of genetic diversity, population structure and population history. Results A star-shaped median joining haplotype network, unimodal mismatch distribution and significantly negative neutrality tests indicated population expansion in An. baimaii with the start of expansion estimated to be ~0.243 million years before present (MYBP) in north-east India. The populations of An. baimaii from north-east India had the highest haplotype and nucleotide diversity with all other populations having a subset of this diversity, likely as the result of range expansion from north-east India. The north-east Indian populations were genetically distinct from those in Bangladesh, Myanmar and Thailand, indicating that mountains, such as the Arakan mountain range between north-east India and Myanmar, are a significant barrier to gene flow. Within north-east India, there was no genetic differentiation among populations with the exception of the Central 2 population in the Barail hills area that was significantly differentiated from other populations. Conclusions The high genetic distinctiveness of the Central 2 population in the Barail hills area of the north-east India should be confirmed and its epidemiological significance further ...