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Variación estacional y alta multiplicidad de las primeras infecciones de Plasmodium falciparum en niños de un área holoendémica de Ghana, África del Este
Author(s) -
Kobbe Robin,
Neuhoff Rieke,
Marks Florian,
Adjei Samuel,
Langefeld Iris,
Von Reden Claudia,
Adjei Ohene,
Meyer Christian G.,
May Jürgen
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
tropical medicine and international health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.056
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 1365-3156
pISSN - 1360-2276
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3156.2006.01618.x
Subject(s) - malaria , plasmodium falciparum , biology , typing , multiplicity of infection , allele , epidemiology , polymerase chain reaction , virology , medicine , immunology , genetics , gene
Summary Objective To assess the prevalence and multiplicity of Plasmodium falciparum infections in Ghanaian infants. Method In an epidemiological study in an area holoendemic for malaria in Ghana, the prevalence and multiplicity of P. falciparum infections (MOI) were assessed in 1069 three month‐old infants by typing of the genes encoding the merozoite surface proteins 1 and 2 ( msp‐1 , msp‐2 ) over a recruitment period of one year. Alleles were amplified using allele family‐specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays and determined according to their length polymorphisms on a genetic analyzer. Results The occurrence of early infections was dependent on the season (month‐stratified prevalence 6.4–29.0%). Diversity of msp ‐alleles was extensive and significantly higher in the dry than in the rainy season. Conclusions The level of infection prevalence and the high multiplicity of infections (median 4, maximum 14 strains per isolate) in the first months of life indicate early contacts with parasites exhibiting a wide repertoire of antigens and, most likely, multiple infections per single mosquito bite.