The genetic diversity of Plasmodium malariae and Plasmodium brasilianum from human, simian and mosquito hosts in Brazil

► Plasmodium malariae is a protozoan parasite that causes malaria in humans. ► Plasmodium brasilianum is a parasite that infects New World monkeys. ► Until now these parasites are considered genetically indistinguishable. ► By using microsatellite genotyping, we found a restricted polymorphism of P. malariae. ► P. brasilianum from simian samples presented a greater diversity. ► Our data support the origin of P. malariae from P. brasilianum.