Genetic diversity of Plasmodium falciparum among asymptomatic pregnant women on intermittent preventive treatment with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine in Nigeria

This study investigated the genetic diversity of Plasmodium falciparum among asymptomatic pregnant women on intermittent preventive treatment with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (IPTp-Sp) in Osogbo, southwest Nigeria. Blood sample was obtained from consenting attending antenatal clinics. Microscopy and Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were employed to diagnose analyse diversity. Of 301 samples, 53 (18%) 83 (28%) positive for P. by microscopy PCR, respectively. Using merozoite surface protein (msp)-1, msp-2, glutamate-rich (glurp) genes P.falciparum as polymorphic markers, msp-1 gene showed nine alleles R033 (66.7%) being predominant, followed K1 (45.5%) MAD20 (33.3%). The msp-2 had 16 (eight each FC27 3D7). 3D7 (82.1%) significantly more than (48.2%) (p = 0.0093). Nine detected glurp gene, presenting highest monoclonal lowest polyclonal infection. multiplicity infection (MOI) 1.5, 1.8, 1.2 msp-1, genes. In light high IPT-Sp this study, additionalstrategies preventing controlling malaria pregnancy might be required.
 Keywords: Malaria; pregnancy; allelic frequency; infection; Merozoite protein; protein.