Korean J Parasitol.  2015 Aug;53(4):413-419. 10.3347/kjp.2015.53.4.413.

Allelic Diversity of MSP1 Gene in Plasmodium falciparum from Rural and Urban Areas of Gabon

• Mawili-Mboumba DP
• Mbondoukwe N
• Adande E
• Bouyou-Akotet MK

• KMID: 2381758
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3347/kjp.2015.53.4.413

Abstract

The present study determined and compared the genetic diversity of Plasmodium falciparum strains infecting children living in 2 areas from Gabon with different malaria endemicity. Blood samples were collected from febrile children from 2008 to 2009 in 2 health centres from rural (Oyem) and urban (Owendo) areas. Genetic diversity was determined in P. falciparum isolates by analyzing the merozoite surface protein-1 (msp1) gene polymorphism using nested-PCR. Overall, 168 children with mild falciparum malaria were included. K1, Ro33, and Mad20 alleles were found in 110 (65.5%), 94 (55.9%), and 35 (20.8%) isolates, respectively, without difference according to the site (P>0.05). Allelic families' frequencies were comparable between children less than 5 years old from the 2 sites; while among the older children the proportions of Ro33 and Mad20 alleles were 1.7 to 2.0 fold higher at Oyem. Thirty-three different alleles were detected, 16 (48.5%) were common to both sites, and 10 out of the 17 specific alleles were found at Oyem. Furthermore, multiple infection carriers were frequent at Oyem (57.7% vs 42.2% at Owendo; P=0.04) where the complexity of infection was of 1.88 (+/-0.95) higher compared to that found at Owendo (1.55+/-0.75). Extended genetic diversity of P. falciparum strains infecting Gabonese symptomatic children and high multiplicity of infections were observed in rural area. Alleles common to the 2 sites were frequent; the site-specific alleles predominated in the rural area. Such distribution of the alleles should be taken into accounts when designing MSP1 or MSP2 malaria vaccine.

Keyword

Plasmodium falciparum; malaria; msp1 gene; diversity; endemicity; Gabon

MeSH Terms

Child
Child, Preschool
Female
Gabon
*Gene Frequency
Genetic Variation
Genotype
Humans
Infant
Malaria, Falciparum/*parasitology
Male
Merozoite Surface Protein 1/*genetics/metabolism
Plasmodium falciparum/*genetics/metabolism
Protozoan Proteins/*genetics/metabolism
Rural Population
Urban Population
Merozoite Surface Protein 1
Protozoan Proteins