Plasmodium vivax (
Pv) accounts for over 50% of malaria cases in Latin America and Asia. Despite a significant reduction in
Pv transmission in Thailand, the parasite remains endemic to the border areas. This study aimed to investigate the genetic diversity of
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Plasmodium vivax (
Pv) accounts for over 50% of malaria cases in Latin America and Asia. Despite a significant reduction in
Pv transmission in Thailand, the parasite remains endemic to the border areas. This study aimed to investigate the genetic diversity of the parasites and the host factors, as well as their relation to parasite density in
Pvisolates, along the Thai–Myanmar border. Genetic variations in
Pv markers, specifically the ookinete surface protein
Pvs25, and host genes, including Toll-like receptor 6 (TLR6), TLR9, TIR Domain-containing adaptor protein (TIRAP), Toll-interacting protein (TOLLIP), Duffy antigen receptor for chemokines (DARC), and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), were investigated using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). A total of 548 PCR-positive
Pv samples collected from Tak and Kanchanaburi provinces during two periods (2006–2007 and 2014–2016) were included in the study.
Pvs25 exhibited four haplotypes, with H1 (EGTKV) being the most prevalent in both provinces. Kanchanaburi isolates exhibited greater genetic diversity than Tak isolates. No significant deviations from neutrality were observed for
Pvs25 in either area. ICAM-1 and TOLLIP s3750920 heterozygous carriers had greater median parasite densities than homozygous mutants. The TLR9 rs187084 T genotype had a significantly higher parasite density than the non-T genotype. The findings underscore the significant association between the rs3750920 C/T, rs5498 A/G, and rs187084 T genotypes and high parasite density in patients infected with
Pv, highlighting their potentially critical role in malaria susceptibility.
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