Schematic life cycle of <i>Leishmania</i> parasites.

<p>The life cycle starts when a parasitized female sandfly takes a blood meal from a vertebrate host (e.g., a human). As the sandfly feeds, infectious promastigote (metacyclic) forms of the parasite enter the vertebrate host. Within the vertebrate host, these forms are phagocytosed by macrophages where they differentiate into amastigote forms. The life cycle is completed when, during a blood meal, a female sandfly ingests infected macrophages. The parasites transform into multiplicative promastigotes inside the sandfly, and after migration into the sandfly's proboscis, promastigotes transform into metacyclic promastigotes (infectious form) and must be delivered to a new host for the life cycle to continue. The possible locations of clonality in the two hosts and of sexual events (recombination between two individuals) in the vector are indicated (figure adapted from <a href="http://www.dpd.cdc.gov/dpdx" target="_blank">http://www.dpd.cdc.gov/dpdx</a>).</p

The asexual malaria parasite prevalence (n (%)) and median density (value/µL, Inter Quartile Range [IQR]) in relation to the <i>APOE</i> alleles for children positive for <i>Plasmodium</i> spp. (includes <i>P. falciparum</i>, <i>P. malariae, and mixed P. falciparum/P. malariae</i>) (N=257).

<p>The chi-square test was used to compare proportions and the Mann-Whitney U test was used for variation across the two groups. Significant associations are noted “<b>**</b> ”.</p

The asexual malaria parasite MOI median (value, Inter Quartile Range [IQR]) and MOI>1 prevalence (n/N (%)) in relation to the <i>APOE</i> alleles for children only positive for <i>P. falciparum</i> (excludes <i>P. malariae, and mixed P. falciparum/P. malariae</i>) (N=206).

<p><i>The</i> chi-square test was used to compare proportions and the Mann-Whitney U test was used for variation across the two groups. Significant associations are noted “<b>**</b> ”.</p

Demographic, parasitologic and genetic characteristics of the study population.

*<p>461 subjects were included for Hb analysis: exclusions included subjects who could not be phenotyped for Hb (n=44) and those with small sample numbers HbSS (n=3).</p

The distribution of parasite asexual median density (value/µL, Inter Quartile Range [IQR]) is based on the presence of the <i>APOE</i> Ɛ4 allele and subdivided by the modifier phenotypes: HbAA and HbAS, for children positive only for <i>P. falciparum</i> (excludes <i>P. malariae, and mixed P. falciparum/P. malariae</i>) (N=217).

<p>The Mann-Whitney U test was used for evaluate variation across the two groups. Significant associations are noted “** ”.</p

The asexual malaria parasite prevalence (n (%)) and median density (value/µL, Inter Quartile Range [IQR]) in relation to the <i>APOE</i> alleles for children only positive for <i>P. falciparum</i> (excludes <i>P. malariae, and mixed P. falciparum/P. malariae</i>) (N=234).

<p>The chi-square test was used to compare proportions and the Mann-Whitney U test was used for variation across the two groups. Significant associations are noted “<b>**</b> ”.</p

Additional file 3: of Genetic diversity of Plasmodium falciparum isolates from Baka Pygmies and their Bantu neighbours in the north of Gabon

Allelic diversity of MSP-1, MSP-2, EBA-175 and Glurp of P. falciparum in Bantus and Baka Pygmies. Distribution of alleles of genes MSP1, MSP2, EBA 175 and GLUPR by Population Group

Relationship between (i) the total number of reads sequenced in the “<i>P</i>. <i>vivax</i> and ape <i>Plasmodium</i>” positive controls and (ii) the total number of reads assigned to <i>P</i>. <i>vivax</i> or an ape <i>Plasmodium</i> species in the human samples.

<p>Relationship between (i) the total number of reads sequenced in the “<i>P</i>. <i>vivax</i> and ape <i>Plasmodium</i>” positive controls and (ii) the total number of reads assigned to <i>P</i>. <i>vivax</i> or an ape <i>Plasmodium</i> species in the human samples.</p

Comparison of the total number of <i>P</i>. <i>falciparum</i> reads observed in individuals displaying (i) no <i>P</i>. <i>praefalciparum</i> or (ii) more than one.

<p>Comparison of the total number of <i>P</i>. <i>falciparum</i> reads observed in individuals displaying (i) no <i>P</i>. <i>praefalciparum</i> or (ii) more than one.</p

A. Schematic phylogenetic representation of relationships among <i>Plasmodium</i> species circulating in Central Africa; B. Location, in Gabon, of the 210 villages (red circles) where human blood samples were collected between 2005 and 2008.

<p>Distribution of the different sub-species of chimpanzees, bonobos and of gorillas in Central Africa is shown.</p