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Journal Article > Research

Relapses of Plasmodium vivax infection usually result from activation of heterologous hypnozoites

Imwong M, Snounou G, Pukrittayakamee S, Tanomsing N, Kim JH, Nandy A, Guthmann JP, Nosten F, Carlton J, Looareesuwan S, Nair SA, Sudimack D, Day NPJ, Anderson TJC, White NJ
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Abstract
BACKGROUND: Relapses originating from hypnozoites are characteristic of Plasmodium vivax infections. Thus, reappearance of parasitemia after treatment can result from relapse, recrudescence, or reinfection. It has been assumed that parasites causing relapse would be a subset of the parasites that caused the primary infection. METHODS: Paired samples were collected before initiation of antimalarial treatment and at recurrence of parasitemia from 149 patients with vivax malaria in Thailand (n=36), where reinfection could be excluded, and during field studies in Myanmar (n=75) and India (n=38). RESULTS: Combined genetic data from 2 genotyping approaches showed that novel P. vivax populations were present in the majority of patients with recurrent infection (107 [72%] of 149 patients overall [78% of patients in Thailand, 75% of patients in Myanmar {Burma}, and 63% of patients in India]). In 61% of the Thai and Burmese patients and in 55% of the Indian patients, the recurrent infections contained none of the parasite genotypes that caused the acute infection. CONCLUSIONS: The P. vivax populations emerging from hypnozoites commonly differ from the populations that caused the acute episode. Activation of heterologous hypnozoite populations is the most common cause of first relapse in patients with vivax malaria.
Countries
MyanmarThailandIndia
DOI
10.1086/512241
Published Date
01-Apr-2007
PubMed ID
17330781
Languages
English
Journal
Journal of Infectious Diseases
Volume / Issue / Pages
Volume 195, Issue 7
Issue Date
01-Apr-2007
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