Plasmodium falciparum genetic diversity and multiplicity of infection among asymptomatic and symptomatic malaria-infected individuals in Uganda.

Autor: Mwesigwa A; Clinical Epidemiology Unit, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, P. O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda. mwesigwaalex@gmail.com.; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Kabale University, P. O Box 314, Kabale, Uganda. mwesigwaalex@gmail.com., Ocan M; Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda., Cummings B; Malaria Research Program, Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 655 W. Baltimore St, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA., Musinguzi B; Departent of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Muni University, P.O Box 725, Arua, Uganda.; Department of Immunology and Molecular Biology, School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda., Kiyaga S; Department of Immunology and Molecular Biology, School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda., Kiwuwa SM; Department of Biochemistry, School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Makerere, University, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda., Okoboi S; Infectious Diseases Institute, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, P. O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda., Castelnuovo B; Infectious Diseases Institute, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, P. O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda., Bikaitwoha EM; Department of Community Health, School of Medicine, Kabale University, P. O Box 314, Kabale, Uganda., Kalyango JN; Clinical Epidemiology Unit, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, P. O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda., Karamagi C; Clinical Epidemiology Unit, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, P. O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda., Nankabirwa JI; Clinical Epidemiology Unit, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, P. O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda.; Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda., Nsobya SL; Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda., Byakika-Kibwika P; Infectious Diseases Institute, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, P. O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda.; Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, P. O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda.; Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Tropical medicine and health [Trop Med Health] 2024 Nov 14; Vol. 52 (1), pp. 86. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Nov 14.
DOI: 10.1186/s41182-024-00656-7
Abstrakt: Background: Plasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum) remains a significant public health challenge globally, especially in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where it accounts for 99% of all malaria infections. The outcomes of P. falciparum infection vary, ranging from asymptomatic to severe, and are associated with factors such as host immunity, parasite genetic diversity, and multiplicity of infection (MOI). Using seven neutral microsatellite markers, the current study investigated P. falciparum genetic diversity and MOI in both asymptomatic and symptomatic malaria individuals in Uganda.
Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed 225 P. falciparum isolates from both asymptomatic and symptomatic malaria patients, ranging in age from 6 months to ≥ 18 years. P. falciparum genetic diversity, MOI, and multi-locus linkage disequilibrium (LD) were assessed through genotyping of seven neutral microsatellite markers: Poly-α, TA1, TA109, PfPK2, 2490, C2M34-313, and C3M69-383. Genetic data analysis was performed using appropriate genetic analysis software.
Results: P. falciparum infections exhibited high genetic diversity in both asymptomatic and symptomatic individuals. The mean expected heterozygosity (He) ranged from 0.79 in symptomatic uncomplicated malaria cases to 0.81 in asymptomatic individuals. There was no significant difference (p = 0.33) in MOI between individuals with asymptomatic and symptomatic infections, with the mean MOI ranging from 1.92 in symptomatic complicated cases to 2.10 in asymptomatic individuals. Polyclonal infections were prevalent, varying from 58.5% in symptomatic complicated malaria to 63% in symptomatic uncomplicated malaria cases. A significant linkage disequilibrium (LD) was observed between asymptomatic and symptomatic uncomplicated/complicated infections (p < 0.01). Genetic differentiation was low, with F ST values ranging from 0.0034 to 0.0105 among P. falciparum parasite populations in asymptomatic and symptomatic uncomplicated/complicated infections.
Conclusion: There is a high level of P. falciparum genetic diversity and MOI among both symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals in Uganda. Asymptomatic carriers harbor a diverse range of parasites, which poses challenges for malaria control and necessitates targeted interventions to develop effective strategies.
Competing Interests: Declarations Ethics approval and consent to participate This study utilized secondary data without participant interaction. Study approval and a waiver of consent were provided by the Makerere University School of Medicine Institutional Review Board (# Mak-SOMREC-2021-152) and the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology (# HS2744ES). Consent for publication Not applicable. Competing interests The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
(© 2024. The Author(s).)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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