Sexual recombination punctuated by outbreaks and clonal expansions predicts Toxoplasma gondii population genetics

Int J Parasitol. 2009 Jul 1;39(8):925-33. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2009.02.005. Epub 2009 Feb 13.

Abstract

The cosmopolitan parasitic pathogen Toxoplasma gondii is capable of infecting essentially any warm-blooded vertebrate worldwide, including most birds and mammals, and establishes chronic infections in one-third of the globe's human population. The success of this highly prevalent zoonosis is largely the result of its ability to propagate both sexually and clonally. Frequent genetic exchanges via sexual recombination among extant parasite lineages that mix in the definitive felid host produces new lines that emerge to expand the parasite's host range and cause outbreaks. Highly successful lines spread clonally via carnivorism and in some cases sweep to pandemic levels. The extent to which sexual reproduction versus clonal expansion shapes Toxoplasma's current, global population genetic structure is the central question this review will attempt to answer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Americas / epidemiology
  • Animals
  • Cats
  • Disease Outbreaks*
  • Europe / epidemiology
  • Forecasting
  • Gene Frequency
  • Genes, Protozoan / genetics
  • Genetic Variation
  • Genetics, Population*
  • Humans
  • Korea / epidemiology
  • Life Cycle Stages* / genetics
  • Meiosis
  • Oocysts / growth & development
  • Phylogeny
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / genetics
  • Prevalence
  • Recombination, Genetic / genetics*
  • Reproduction
  • Toxoplasma / genetics*
  • Toxoplasma / growth & development
  • Toxoplasma / pathogenicity
  • Toxoplasmosis / epidemiology
  • Toxoplasmosis / parasitology
  • Toxoplasmosis / transmission