Abstract
BackgroundDetermination of the genetic diversity of malaria parasites can inform the intensity of transmission and identify potential deficiencies in malaria control programmes. This study was conducted to characterize the genetic diversity and allele frequencies of Plasmodium falciparum in Northwest Ethiopia along the Eritrea and Sudan border.MethodsA total of 90 isolates from patients presenting to the local health centre with uncomplicated P. falciparum were collected from October 2014 to January 2015. DNA was extracted and the polymorphic regions of the msp-1, msp-2 and glurp loci were genotyped by nested polymerase chain reactions followed by gel electrophoresis for fragment analysis.ResultsAllelic variation in msp-1, msp-2 and glurp were identified in 90 blood samples. A total of 34 msp alleles (12 for msp-1 and 22 for msp-2) were detected. For msp-1 97.8% (88/90), msp-2 82.2% (74/90) and glurp 46.7% (42/90) were detected. In msp-1, MAD20 was the predominant allelic family detected in 47.7% (42/88) of the isolates followed by RO33 and K1. For msp-2, the frequency of FC27 and IC/3D7 were 77% (57/74) and 76% (56/74), respectively. Nine glurp RII region genotypes were identified. Seventy percent of isolates had multiple genotypes and the overall mean multiplicity of infection was 2.6 (95% CI 2.25–2.97). The heterozygosity index was 0.82, 0.62 and 0.20 for msp-1, msp-2 and glurp, respectively. There was no significant association between multiplicity of infection and age or parasite density.ConclusionsThere was a high degree of genetic diversity with multiple clones in P. falciparum isolates from Northwest Ethiopia suggesting that there is a need for improved malaria control efforts in this region.
Highlights
Determination of the genetic diversity of malaria parasites can inform the intensity of transmission and identify potential deficiencies in malaria control programmes
The population genetic diversity of malaria varies according to the transmission intensity in malaria endemic regions and is higher in hyperendemic areas compared to areas of low endemicity [6,7,8,9]
Allelic diversity of msp‐1, msp‐2 and glurp genes in P. falciparum Alleles of msp-1, msp-2 and glurp were classified according to the size of their polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplified fragments (Additional file 2: Figure S1; Additional file 3: Figure S2; Additional file 4: Figure S3)
Summary
Determination of the genetic diversity of malaria parasites can inform the intensity of transmission and identify potential deficiencies in malaria control programmes. The burden of malaria has declined considerably in Ethiopia, which could be the result of effective implementation of malaria control strategies at the lowest administrative levels [1]. 60% of the population lives in malaria endemic areas [4] and malaria remains among the top ten causes of morbidity and mortality in children under 5 years [5]. The population genetic diversity of malaria varies according to the transmission intensity in malaria endemic regions and is higher in hyperendemic areas compared to areas of low endemicity [6,7,8,9].
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