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Variant Plasmodium ovale isolated from a patient infected in Ghana

David Tordrup1, Jakob Virenfeldt, Felicie F Andersen

  • 1Department of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital-Skejby, Aarhus N., Denmark.

Malaria Journal
|January 25, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Two Plasmodium ovale species, classic and variant, are identified. This study confirms a variant P. ovale from Ghana, genetically similar to isolates from Southeast Asia, Africa, and Cameroon, diverging 1.7 million years ago.

Area of Science:

  • Malariology
  • Parasitology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Recent research distinguishes Plasmodium ovale into classic and variant species using multilocus typing.
  • Understanding Plasmodium ovale genetic diversity is crucial for malaria control and diagnosis.

Observation:

  • A Plasmodium ovale isolate was analyzed from a patient infected in Ghana.
  • Genetic analysis included small subunit ribosomal RNA, cytochrome b, cytochrome c oxidase I, cysteine protease, and lactate dehydrogenase genes.

Findings:

  • The Ghanaian isolate was identified as variant Plasmodium ovale.
  • This variant P. ovale is genetically identical or highly similar to other variant isolates from humans in Southeast Asia and Africa, and a chimpanzee in Cameroon.
  • The evolutionary split between classic and variant P. ovale is estimated to have occurred 1.7 million years ago.

Implications:

  • This finding reinforces the distinct genetic lineages within Plasmodium ovale.
  • It highlights the importance of considering geographic origin and genetic subtypes in malaria epidemiology.
  • Further research into variant P. ovale is needed for targeted interventions and accurate diagnostics.

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