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Monitoring Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax using microsatellite markers indicates limited changes in population structure after substantial transmission decline in Papua New Guinea
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  • Johanna Kattenberg,
  • Zahra Razook,
  • Raksmei Keo,
  • Cristian Koepfli,
  • Charlie Jennison ,
  • Dulcie Lautu-Gumal,
  • Abebe Fola,
  • Maria Ome-Kaius,
  • Celine Barnadas,
  • Peter Siba,
  • Ingrid Felger,
  • James Kazura,
  • Ivo Mueller,
  • Leanne Robinson,
  • Alyssa Barry
Johanna Kattenberg
Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Zahra Razook
Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
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Raksmei Keo
Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
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Cristian Koepfli
Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
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Charlie Jennison
Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
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Dulcie Lautu-Gumal
Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
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Abebe Fola
Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
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Maria Ome-Kaius
Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
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Celine Barnadas
Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
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Peter Siba
Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research
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Ingrid Felger
Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute
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James Kazura
Case Western Reserve University
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Ivo Mueller
The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
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Leanne Robinson
Burnet Institute
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Alyssa Barry
Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
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Abstract

Monitoring the genetic structure of pathogen populations may be an economical and sensitive approach to quantify the impact of control on transmission dynamics, highlighting the need for a better understanding of changes in population genetic parameters as transmission declines. Here we describe the first population genetic analysis of the major human malaria parasites, Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) and Plasmodium vivax (Pv) populations following nationwide distribution of long-lasting insecticide treated nets (LLIN) in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Parasite isolates from pre- (2005-6) and post-LLIN (2010-2014) were genotyped using microsatellite markers. Despite parasite prevalence declining substantially (East Sepik: Pf=54.9-8.5%, Pv=35.7-5.6%, Madang: Pf=38.0-9.0%, Pv: 31.8-19.7%), genetically diverse and intermixing parasite populations remained. Pf diversity declined modestly post-LLIN relative to pre-LLIN (East Sepik: Rs = 7.1-6.4, He = 0.77-0.71; Madang: Rs= 8.2-6.1, He = 0.79-0.71). Unexpectedly, population structure present in pre-LLIN populations was lost post-LLIN, suggesting that more frequent human movement between provinces may have contributed to higher gene flow. Pv prevalence initially declined but increased again in one province, yet diversity remained high throughout the study period (East Sepik: Rs=11.4-9.3, He=0.83-0.80; Madang: Rs=12.2-14.5, He=0.85-0.88). Although genetic differentiation values increased between provinces over time, no significant population structure was observed at any time point. For both species, a decline in multiple infections and increasing clonal transmission and significant multilocus linkage disequilibrium (mLD) post-LLIN was a positive indicator of impact on the parasite population using microsatellite markers. These parameters may be useful adjuncts to traditional epidemiological tools in the early stages of transmission reduction.
22 May 2020Submitted to Molecular Ecology
01 Jun 2020Reviewer(s) Assigned
15 Jul 2020Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
27 Jul 2020Editorial Decision: Accept
16 Oct 2020Published in Molecular Ecology. 10.1111/mec.15654