Abstract
IntroductionSubmicroscopic Plasmodium infections are common in malaria endemic countries, but very little studies have been done in Senegal. This study investigates the genetic diversity and complexity of submicroscopic P. falciparum infections among febrile patients in low transmission areas in Senegal.Materials and methodsHundred and fifty blood samples were collected from febrile individuals living in Dielmo and Ndiop (Senegal) between August 2014 and January 2015, tested for microscopic and sub-microscopic P. falciparum infections and characterized for their genetic diversity and complexity of infections using msp-1 and msp-2 genotyping.ResultsSubmicroscopic P. falciparum infections were 19.6% and 25% in Dielmo and Ndiop, respectively. K1 and 3D7 were the predominant msp-1 and msp-2 allelic types with respective frequencies of 67.36% and 67.10% in microscopic isolates and 58.24% and 78% in submicroscopic ones. Frequencies of msp-1 allelic types were statistically comparable between the studied groups (p>0.05), and were respectively 93.54% vs 87.5% for K1, 60% vs 54.83% for MAD20 and 41.93% vs 22.5% for RO33 while frequencies of msp-2 allelic types were significantly highest in the microscopy group for FC27 (41.93% vs 10%, Fisher’s Exact Test, p = 0.001) and 3D7 (61.29% vs 32.5%, Fisher’s Exact Test, p = 0.02). Multiplicities of infection were lowest in submicroscopic P. falciparum isolates.ConclusionsThe study revealed a high submicroscopic P. falciparum carriage among patients in the study areas, and that submicroscopic P. falciparum isolates had a lower genetic diversity and complexity of malaria infections.
Highlights
Submicroscopic Plasmodium infections are common in malaria endemic countries, but very little studies have been done in Senegal
This study investigates the genetic diversity and complexity of submicroscopic P. falciparum infections among febrile patients in low transmission areas in Senegal
Frequencies of msp-1 allelic types were statistically comparable between the studied groups (p>0.05), and were respectively 93.54% vs 87.5% for K1, 60% vs 54.83% for MAD20 and 41.93% vs 22.5% for RO33 while frequencies of msp-2 allelic types were significantly highest in the microscopy group for FC27 (41.93% vs 10%, Fisher’s Exact Test, p = 0.001) and 3D7 (61.29% vs 32.5%, Fisher’s Exact Test, p = 0.02)
Summary
Submicroscopic Plasmodium infections are common in malaria endemic countries, but very little studies have been done in Senegal. Studies have estimated that submicroscopic Plasmodium infections sourced for 20–50% of all human-to-mosquito transmissions when transmission reaches very low levels [8], and a meta-analysis of community-based study has shown that microscopy only detected 50% of the infections identified by PCR [9]. Together, this revealed the importance of submicroscopic Plasmodium infections for ongoing malaria transmission and highlighted the relevance of addressing such infections
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