Assessment of Genetic Diversity of Plasmodium falciparum Merozoite Surface Protein 1 from Infected Residents in Port Harcourt Metropolis, Nigeria

Abstract

Malaria continues to pose a substantial public health challenge in Nigeria, with about 30.9% of the global malaria mortality burden. The challenges in achieving elimination may be attributed, in part, to the high genetic diversity of the parasite. This study was carried out to assess the genetic diversity of Plasmodium falciparum in Port Harcourt metropolis. A total of 184 uncoagulated blood samples were collected from patients who presented at some designated clinical laboratories in Port Harcourt. Samples were stained by the Giemsa technique and screened microscopically for the presence of Plasmodium falciparum. A total of 98 samples were found to be positive for Plasmodium falciparum, out of which 20 were randomly selected for molecular analysis for the presence of merozoite surface protein-1 alleles (R0333, MAD20, K1) using nested PCR method. The result revealed the presence of the three alleles, with R033 being the most prevalent with 45%, followed by K1 (32%) and MAD20 (23%). Study revealed that 45% of the infections were monoclonal infections, 30% were polyclonal while 25% had no expression of any allele which suggests that the parasitaemia in those samples were quite low. The findings of this study reveal that there is moderate genetic diversity in the study population with a heterozygosity (He) of 0.641. Although a moderate genetic diversity was observed, the multiplicity of infection (MOI) in this study was 1.1, which is usually seen in an area of low transmission. This low MOI observed in this study can be as a result of people in the population taking antimalarial medications before seeking medical attention. Study needs further elucidation.