Population genomics diversity of Plasmodium falciparum in malaria patients attending Okelele Health Centre, Okelele, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria

Olatunji Matthew Kolawole,Olugbenga Ayodeji Mokuolu,Tolulope Ololade Oloyede,Yetunde Adeola Olukosi

doi:10.4314/ahs.v16i3.10

Abstract

Plasmodium falciparum, the most dangerous malaria parasite species to humans remains an important public health concern in Okelele, a rural community in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria. There is however little information about the genetic diversity of Plasmodium falciparum in Nigeria. To determine the population genomic diversity of Plasmodium falciparum in malaria patients attending Okelele Community Healthcare Centre, Okelele, Ilorin, Kwara State. In this study, 50 Plasmodium falciparum strains Merozoite Surface Protein 1, Merozoite Surface Protein 2 and Glutamate Rich Protein were analysed from Okelele Health Centre, Okelele, Ilorin, Nigeria. Genetic diversity of P. falciparum isolates were analysed from nested polymerase chain reactions (PCR) of the MSP-1 (K1, MAD 20 and RO33), MSP-2 (FC27 and 3D7) and Glutamate Rich Protein allelic families respectively. Polyclonal infections were more in majority of the patients for MSP-1 allelic families while monoclonal infections were more for MSP-2 allelic families. Multiplicity of infection for MSP-1, MSP-2 and GLURP were 1.7, 1.8 and 2.05 respectively. There is high genetic diversity in MSP - 2 and GLURP allelic families of Plasmodium falciparum isolates from Okelele Health Centre, Ilorin, Nigeria.

Highlights

Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by Plasmodium parasites that is transmitted to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes
Several P. falciparum genes show extensive genetic polymorphism, high polymorphism has been shown in Merozoite surface proteins 1 and 2 (MSP-1 and MSP-2) and Glutamate Rich Protein (GLURP) in different qeographical locations in malaria endemic areas
Glutamate Rich Protein (GLURP) was observed in 19(39.58%) of the Plasmodium falciparum isolates from Okelele Health Centre, Ilorin. This proportion was low when compared with isolates from other parts of Sub-Saharan Africa[5] and South Western Nigeria[20] where 73.7% and 80.0% of isolates respectively coded for GLURP. These results collectively suggest that diverse allelic variations of MSP – 1, MSP – 2 and GLURP exist in Plasmodium falciparum isolates from Okelele Health Centre, Ilorin

Summary

Introduction

Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by Plasmodium parasites that is transmitted to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. Plasmodium falciparum, the most dangerous malaria parasite species to humans remains an important public health concern in Okelele, a rural community in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria. Objective: To determine the population genomic diversity of Plasmodium falciparum in malaria patients attending Okelele Community Healthcare Centre, Okelele, Ilorin, Kwara State. Methods: In this study, 50 Plasmodium falciparum strains Merozoite Surface Protein 1, Merozoite Surface Protein 2 and Glutamate Rich Protein were analysed from Okelele Health Centre, Okelele, Ilorin, Nigeria. Multiplicity of infection for MSP-1, MSP-2 and GLURP were 1.7, 1.8 and 2.05 respectively Conclusion: There is high genetic diversity in MSP – 2 and GLURP allelic families of Plasmodium falciparum isolates from Okelele Health Centre, Ilorin, Nigeria. Population genomics diversity of Plasmodium falciparum in malaria patients attending Okelele Health Centre, Okelele, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria.

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