Genetic Diversity of Potential Drug Resistance Markers in <i>Plasmodium vivax</i> Isolates from Panama, Mesoamerica
This study evaluated the genetic diversity and potential drug resistance markers in <i>Plasmodium vivax</i> isolates from Panama, a country in Mesoamerica, aiming to eliminate local malaria transmission. We analyzed 70 <i>P. vivax</i> samples collected between 2004 and 2020 f...
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2025-02-01
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| author | Vanessa Vásquez Ana María Santamaría Dianik Moreno Fergie Ruíz Chystrie A. Rigg Luis F. Chaves José E. Calzada |
| author_facet | Vanessa Vásquez Ana María Santamaría Dianik Moreno Fergie Ruíz Chystrie A. Rigg Luis F. Chaves José E. Calzada |
| author_sort | Vanessa Vásquez |
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| description | This study evaluated the genetic diversity and potential drug resistance markers in <i>Plasmodium vivax</i> isolates from Panama, a country in Mesoamerica, aiming to eliminate local malaria transmission. We analyzed 70 <i>P. vivax</i> samples collected between 2004 and 2020 from endemic regions in Eastern and Western Panama, as well as imported cases. Four drug resistance genes (<i>pvcrt-o</i>, <i>pvmdr1</i>, <i>pvdhfr</i>, and <i>pvdhps</i>) were sequenced and analyzed. Our findings reveal low genetic diversity in <i>P. vivax</i> populations from Western Panama, indicating clonal expansion, while Eastern Panama exhibits higher diversity, influenced by higher transmission rates and imported cases. No mutations were detected in <i>pvcrt-o</i>, and the prevalence of <i>pvmdr1</i> mutations (Y976F and F1076L) linked to chloroquine was observed at low frequencies, primarily in imported samples. In <i>pvdhfr</i>, antifolate-resistant mutations S117N and S58R were detected in 14.3% of samples, predominantly from Eastern Panama near the Colombian border. Phylogenetic and haplotype network analyses highlighted distinct genetic clustering, supporting the influence of imported cases on local parasite diversity. These results provide a baseline for the molecular surveillance of <i>P. vivax</i> in Panama and emphasize the need for the continued monitoring of genetic diversity and drug resistance to guide regional malaria elimination efforts, particularly in areas with high cross-border migration. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c284b0b94c414fdbaa1db5a042c20bc8 |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-c284b0b94c414fdbaa1db5a042c20bc82025-08-20T01:48:57ZengMDPI AGPathogens2076-08172025-02-0114323110.3390/pathogens14030231Genetic Diversity of Potential Drug Resistance Markers in <i>Plasmodium vivax</i> Isolates from Panama, MesoamericaVanessa Vásquez0Ana María Santamaría1Dianik Moreno2Fergie Ruíz3Chystrie A. Rigg4Luis F. Chaves5José E. Calzada6Departamento de Investigación en Parasitología, Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud, Panamá 0816-02593, PanamaDepartamento de Investigación en Parasitología, Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud, Panamá 0816-02593, PanamaLaboratorio Central de Referencia en Salud Publica, Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud, Panamá 0816-02593, PanamaLaboratorio Central de Referencia en Salud Publica, Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud, Panamá 0816-02593, PanamaDepartamento de Investigación en Parasitología, Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud, Panamá 0816-02593, PanamaDepartment of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47408, USADepartamento de Investigación en Parasitología, Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud, Panamá 0816-02593, PanamaThis study evaluated the genetic diversity and potential drug resistance markers in <i>Plasmodium vivax</i> isolates from Panama, a country in Mesoamerica, aiming to eliminate local malaria transmission. We analyzed 70 <i>P. vivax</i> samples collected between 2004 and 2020 from endemic regions in Eastern and Western Panama, as well as imported cases. Four drug resistance genes (<i>pvcrt-o</i>, <i>pvmdr1</i>, <i>pvdhfr</i>, and <i>pvdhps</i>) were sequenced and analyzed. Our findings reveal low genetic diversity in <i>P. vivax</i> populations from Western Panama, indicating clonal expansion, while Eastern Panama exhibits higher diversity, influenced by higher transmission rates and imported cases. No mutations were detected in <i>pvcrt-o</i>, and the prevalence of <i>pvmdr1</i> mutations (Y976F and F1076L) linked to chloroquine was observed at low frequencies, primarily in imported samples. In <i>pvdhfr</i>, antifolate-resistant mutations S117N and S58R were detected in 14.3% of samples, predominantly from Eastern Panama near the Colombian border. Phylogenetic and haplotype network analyses highlighted distinct genetic clustering, supporting the influence of imported cases on local parasite diversity. These results provide a baseline for the molecular surveillance of <i>P. vivax</i> in Panama and emphasize the need for the continued monitoring of genetic diversity and drug resistance to guide regional malaria elimination efforts, particularly in areas with high cross-border migration.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/14/3/231malaria<i>Plasmodium vivax</i>drug resistance genesgenetic diversityPanamaMesoamerica |
| spellingShingle | Vanessa Vásquez Ana María Santamaría Dianik Moreno Fergie Ruíz Chystrie A. Rigg Luis F. Chaves José E. Calzada Genetic Diversity of Potential Drug Resistance Markers in <i>Plasmodium vivax</i> Isolates from Panama, Mesoamerica Pathogens malaria <i>Plasmodium vivax</i> drug resistance genes genetic diversity Panama Mesoamerica |
| title | Genetic Diversity of Potential Drug Resistance Markers in <i>Plasmodium vivax</i> Isolates from Panama, Mesoamerica |
| title_full | Genetic Diversity of Potential Drug Resistance Markers in <i>Plasmodium vivax</i> Isolates from Panama, Mesoamerica |
| title_fullStr | Genetic Diversity of Potential Drug Resistance Markers in <i>Plasmodium vivax</i> Isolates from Panama, Mesoamerica |
| title_full_unstemmed | Genetic Diversity of Potential Drug Resistance Markers in <i>Plasmodium vivax</i> Isolates from Panama, Mesoamerica |
| title_short | Genetic Diversity of Potential Drug Resistance Markers in <i>Plasmodium vivax</i> Isolates from Panama, Mesoamerica |
| title_sort | genetic diversity of potential drug resistance markers in i plasmodium vivax i isolates from panama mesoamerica |
| topic | malaria <i>Plasmodium vivax</i> drug resistance genes genetic diversity Panama Mesoamerica |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/14/3/231 |
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