Population genetics of Trypanosoma brucei gambiense, the agent of sleeping sickness in Western Africa.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
; 106(1): 209-14, 2009 Jan 06.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-19106297
ABSTRACT
Human African trypanosomiasis, or sleeping sickness caused by Trypanosoma brucei gambiense, occurs in Western and Central Africa. T. brucei s.l. displays a huge diversity of adaptations and host specificities, and questions about its reproductive mode, dispersal abilities, and effective size remain under debate. We have investigated genetic variation at 8 microsatellite loci of T. b. gambiense strains isolated from human African trypanosomiasis patients in the Ivory Coast and Guinea, with the aim of knowing how genetic information was partitioned within and between individuals in both temporal and spatial scales. The results indicate that (i) migration of T. b. gambiense group 1 strains does not occur at the scale of West Africa, and that even at a finer scale (e.g., within Guinea) migration is restricted; (ii) effective population sizes of trypanosomes, as reflected by infected hosts, are probably higher than what the epidemiological surveys suggest; and (iii) T. b. gambiense group 1 is most likely a strictly clonally reproducing organism.
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Trypanosoma brucei gambiense
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Tripanossomíase Africana
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Variação Genética
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Genética Populacional
Limite:
Animals
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Humans
País como assunto:
Africa
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2009
Tipo de documento:
Article