Journal article
Population structure and diversity of Plasmodium falciparum in children with asymptomatic malaria living in different ecological zones of Ghana
BMC infectious diseases, v 21(1), 439
13 May 2021
PMID: 33985447
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Background
Genetic diversity in Plasmodium falciparum populations can be used to describe the resilience and spatial distribution of the parasite in the midst of intensified intervention efforts. This study used microsatellite analysis to evaluate the genetic diversity and population dynamics of P. falciparum parasites circulating in three ecological zones of Ghana.
Methods
A total of 1168 afebrile children aged between 3 to 13 years were recruited from five (5) Primary schools in 3 different ecological zones (Sahel (Tamale and Kumbungu), Forest (Konongo) and Coastal (Ada and Dodowa)) of Ghana. Asymptomatic malaria parasite carriage was determined using microscopy and PCR, whilst fragment analysis of 6 microsatellite loci was used to determine the diversity and population structure of P. falciparum parasites.
Results
Out of the 1168 samples examined, 16.1 and 39.5% tested positive for P. falciparum by microscopy and nested PCR respectively. The genetic diversity of parasites in the 3 ecological zones was generally high, with an average heterozygosity (He) of 0.804, 0.787 and 0.608 the rainy (peak) season for the Sahel, Forest and Coastal zones respectively. The mean He for the dry (off-peak) season were 0.562, 0.693 and 0.610 for the Sahel, Forest and Coastal zones respectively. Parasites from the Forest zone were more closely related to those from the Sahel than from the Coastal zone, despite the Coastal zone being closer in physical distance to the Forest zone. The fixation indexes among study sites ranged from 0.049 to 0.112 during the rainy season and 0.112 to 0.348 during the dry season.
Conclusion
A large asymptomatic parasite reservoir was found in the school children during both rainy and dry seasons, especially those in the Forest and Sahel savannah zones where parasites were also found to be related compared to those from the Coastal zone. Further studies are recommended to understand why despite the roll out of several malaria interventions in Ghana, high transmission still persist.
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Details
- Title
- Population structure and diversity of Plasmodium falciparum in children with asymptomatic malaria living in different ecological zones of Ghana
- Creators
- Linda Eva Amoah - University of GhanaZakaria Abukari - University of GhanaMaame Esi Dawson-Amoah - University of GhanaCheikh Cambel Dieng - University of North Carolina at CharlotteEugenia Lo - University of North Carolina at CharlotteYaw Asare Afrane - University of Ghana
- Publication Details
- BMC infectious diseases, v 21(1), 439
- Publisher
- BioMed Central
- Number of pages
- 13
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Microbiology and Immunology
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000656258700002
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85105845958
- Other Identifier
- 991022192517804721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Infectious Diseases