Human-mobility-related transmission of new parasite genetic clusters in Mazan basin in the Peruvian Amazon

Abstract

Plasmodium vivax is the main cause of malaria in the Peruvian Amazon and Mazan is considered one of its districts with high risk of malaria transmission. In this site, previous studies has described P. vivax transmission as heterogenic and has suggested that its prevalence is influenced by factors linked to human mobilization. However, the contribution of this factor have not been assessed yet. Population genetic tools provide information on the individual contribution of the factors that favor the transmission and evaluate the demographic patterns of dispersion of the parasite populations which are influenced by the human mobilization. In order to evaluate contribution of human mobilization to malariatransmission in Mazan, in this work we use a Bayesian framework to identify genetic sub-populations in each basin and to discriminate between endogenous and imported cases. Socio-demographic and clinical- epidemiological factors associated with the expansion of specific genetic sub- populations, the spatial distribution at a micro-geographical level of different genetic population parameters and the effects of the introduction of new genetic parasite populations on the clinical manifestations of the susceptible human population are also described.