Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency Genetic Variants in Malaria Patients in Southwestern Ethiopia.

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is an X-linked erythrocyte enzyme disorder with relevance to malaria treatment policy. Treatment with the antimalarial primaquine can result in hemolytic anemia in G6PD-deficient patients. With increased interest in primaquine use, it is important to identify G6PD variants in Ethiopia to inform malaria treatment policy. In the present study, mutations in the G6PD gene are identified in a sample of patients with malaria in Jimma town in southwest Ethiopia. Plasmodium species of infection were confirmed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and gel electrophoresis. PCR and Sanger sequencing were performed to observe a portion of the G6PD gene where the common G6PD mutations (A376G, G202A, and C563T) are found. Molecular analysis revealed that most of the samples were single Plasmodium vivax infections (83.7%). For G6PD genotyping, A376G was detected in 23.26% of individuals, whereas G202A and C563T were absent. Three other uncommon mutations were identified: rs782669677 (535G→A), rs370658483, (485 + 37 G→T), and a new mutation at chrX:154535443(C→T). Bioinformatic analysis of these mutations' potential functional impact suggests minimal effect on protein function. The discovery of both common and uncommon G6PD mutations contributes to the discussion on G6PD deficiency and appropriate primaquine treatment in Ethiopia.