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.
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.
Authors: Jesse J Kwiek; Alisa P Alker; Emily C Wenink; Marjorie Chaponda; Linda V Kalilani; Steven R Meshnick Journal: Antimicrob Agents Chemother Date: 2006-11-20 Impact factor: 5.191
Authors: Frederick N Baliraine; Yaw A Afrane; Dolphine A Amenya; Mariangela Bonizzoni; Anne M Vardo-Zalik; David M Menge; Andrew K Githeko; Guiyun Yan Journal: BMC Infect Dis Date: 2010-09-24 Impact factor: 3.090
Authors: Issiaka Soulama; Edith C Bougouma; Amidou Diarra; Issa Nebie; Sodiomon B Sirima Journal: Trop Med Int Health Date: 2009-11-03 Impact factor: 2.622