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We describe the dynamics of co-infections of Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax in 28 asymptomatic children by genotyping these species using the polymorphic loci Msp2 and Msp3alpha, respectively. The total number of Plasmodium spp. infections detected using 3 day sampling over 61 days varied between 1 and 14 (mean 6.6). The dynamics of P. falciparum and P. vivax genotypes varied greatly both within and amongst children. Periodicity in the detection of P. falciparum infections is consistent with the synchronous replication of individual genotypes. Replication synchrony of multiple co-infecting genotypes was not detected. In 4-year-old children P. falciparum genotype complexity was reduced and episodes lasted significantly longer (median duration > 60 days) when compared to children aged 5-14 years (median duration 9 days). P. vivax genotype complexity was not correlated with age but the episode duration was also longer for this species in 4-year-olds than in older children but was not as long as P. falciparum episodes. Recurrence of P. falciparum and P. vivax genotypes over weeks was observed. We interpret these major fluctuations in the density of genotypes over time as the result of the mechanism of antigenic variation thought to be present in these Plasmodium species.

Original publication

DOI

10.1017/s0031182099006356

Type

Journal article

Journal

Parasitology

Publication Date

09/2000

Volume

121 ( Pt 3)

Pages

257 - 272

Addresses

Wellcome Trust Centre for the Epidemiology of Infectious Disease, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford. marianbruce@hotmail.com

Keywords

Animals, Humans, Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax, Parasitemia, Malaria, Falciparum, Malaria, Vivax, Protozoan Proteins, DNA, Protozoan, DNA Primers, Antigens, Protozoan, Blotting, Southern, Electrophoresis, Agar Gel, Survival Analysis, Longitudinal Studies, Polymerase Chain Reaction, Sequence Analysis, DNA, Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length, Adolescent, Child, Child, Preschool, Papua New Guinea, Female, Male, Genetic Variation