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An isoenzyme survey of Trypanosoma brucei s.l. from the Central African subregion: population structure, taxonomic and epidemiological considerations

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 May 2004

F. NJIOKOU
Affiliation:
OCEAC, Laboratoire de Recherche sur les Trypanosomoses, BP 288, Yaoundé, Cameroun Université de Yaoundé I, Faculté des Sciences, BP 812, Yaoundé, Cameroun
S. W. NKININ
Affiliation:
OCEAC, Laboratoire de Recherche sur les Trypanosomoses, BP 288, Yaoundé, Cameroun
P. GRÉBAUT
Affiliation:
Laboratoire de Recherche et de Coordination sur les Trypanosomoses (IRD-CIRAD) TA 207/G, Campus international de Baillarguet, 34398 Montpellier Cedex 5, France
L. PENCHENIER
Affiliation:
Laboratoire de Recherche et de Coordination sur les Trypanosomoses (IRD-CIRAD) TA 207/G, Campus international de Baillarguet, 34398 Montpellier Cedex 5, France
C. BARNABÉ
Affiliation:
Génétique des Maladies Infectieuses, Unité Mixte de Recherche Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)/Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD) n°9926, IRD, BP 64501, 34394 Montpellier Cedex 05, France
M. TIBAYRENC
Affiliation:
Génétique des Maladies Infectieuses, Unité Mixte de Recherche Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)/Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD) n°9926, IRD, BP 64501, 34394 Montpellier Cedex 05, France
S. HERDER
Affiliation:
Laboratoire de Recherche et de Coordination sur les Trypanosomoses (IRD-CIRAD) TA 207/G, Campus international de Baillarguet, 34398 Montpellier Cedex 5, France
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Abstract

In order to improve our knowledge about the taxonomic status and the population structure of the causative agent of Human African Trypanosomiasis in the Central African subregion, 169 newly isolated stocks, of which 16 came from pigs, and 5 reference stocks, were characterized by multilocus enzyme electrophoresis, for 17 genetic loci. We identified 22 different isoenzyme profiles or zymodemes, many of which showed limited differences between them. These zymodemes were equated to multilocus genotypes. UPGMA dendrograms revealed one main group: Trypanosoma brucei gambiense group I and 3 T. brucei ‘non-gambiense’ stocks. T. b. gambiense group I zymodemes were very homogenous, grouping all the human stocks and 31% of the pig stocks. Two main zymodemes (Z1 and Z3) grouping 74% of the stocks were found in different remote countries. The genetic distances were relatively high in T. brucei ‘non-gambiense’ zymodemes, regrouping 69% of pig stocks. The analysis of linkage disequilibrium was in favour of a predominantly clonal population structure. This was supported by the ubiquitous occurrence of the main zymodemes, suggesting genetic stability in time and space of this parasite's natural clones. However, in some cases an epidemic population structure could not be ruled out. Our study also suggested that the domestic pig was a probable reservoir host for T. b. gambiense group I in Cameroon.

Information

Type
Research Article
Copyright
2004 Cambridge University Press
Figure 0

Table 1. Origin and identification of the Trypanosoma brucei s.l. stocks surveyed in the present study

Figure 1

Table 2. Genotypes recorded at polymorphic isoenzyme loci surveyed

Figure 2

Table 3. Level of genetic variability in newly isolated stocks

Figure 3

Fig. 1. UPGMA tree built from Jaccard's genetic distances observed between the 22 zymodemes (Z) or multilocus genotypes. A005, Malounda and JUA are Trypanosoma brucei gambiense group I reference stocks, M253 and TRPZ166 are respectively T. b. brucei and T. b. rhodesiense reference stocks. The number 36 corresponds to T. b. gambiense group I bootstrap value.

Figure 4

Table 4. Levels of significance of linkage disequilibrium tests among the various subsamples of Trypanosoma brucei s.l. newly isolated stocks