TY - JOUR
T1 - Genetic spatiotemporal anatomy of Plasmodium vivax malaria episodes in Greece, 2009-2013
AU - Spanakos, Gregory
AU - Snounou, Georges
AU - Pervanidou, Danai
AU - Alifrangis, Michael
AU - Rosanas-Urgell, Anna
AU - Baka, Agoritsa
AU - Tseroni, Maria
AU - Vakali, Annita
AU - Vassalou, Evdokia
AU - Patsoula, Eleni
AU - Zeller, Herve
AU - Van Bortel, Wim
AU - Hadjichristodoulou, Christos
AU - MALWEST Project
PY - 2018/3
Y1 - 2018/3
N2 - An influx of immigrants is contributing to the reemergence of Plasmodium vivax malaria in Greece; 1 persistent focus of transmission is in Laconia, Pelopónnese. We genotyped archived blood samples from a substantial proportion of malaria cases recorded in GreecePvMSP-3αin 2009–2013 using 8 microsatellite markers and a gene fragment and plotted their spatiotemporal distribution. High parasite genetic diversity with low multiplicity of infection was observed. A subset of genetically identical/related parasites was restricted to 3 areas in migrants and Greek residents, with some persisting over 2 consecutive transmission periods. We identified 2 hitherto unsuspected additional foci of local transmission: Kardhítsa and Attica. Furthermore, this analysis indicates that several cases in migrants initially classified as imported malaria were actually locally acquired. This study shows the potential for P. vivax to reestablish transmission and counsels public health authorities about the need for vigilance to achieve or maintain sustainable malaria elimination.
AB - An influx of immigrants is contributing to the reemergence of Plasmodium vivax malaria in Greece; 1 persistent focus of transmission is in Laconia, Pelopónnese. We genotyped archived blood samples from a substantial proportion of malaria cases recorded in GreecePvMSP-3αin 2009–2013 using 8 microsatellite markers and a gene fragment and plotted their spatiotemporal distribution. High parasite genetic diversity with low multiplicity of infection was observed. A subset of genetically identical/related parasites was restricted to 3 areas in migrants and Greek residents, with some persisting over 2 consecutive transmission periods. We identified 2 hitherto unsuspected additional foci of local transmission: Kardhítsa and Attica. Furthermore, this analysis indicates that several cases in migrants initially classified as imported malaria were actually locally acquired. This study shows the potential for P. vivax to reestablish transmission and counsels public health authorities about the need for vigilance to achieve or maintain sustainable malaria elimination.
U2 - 10.3201/eid2403.170605
DO - 10.3201/eid2403.170605
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 29460743
SN - 1080-6040
VL - 24
SP - 541
EP - 548
JO - Emerging Infectious Diseases
JF - Emerging Infectious Diseases
IS - 3
ER -
