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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
immunology and microbiology
Impact of genetic complexity on longevity and gametocytogenesis of Plasmodium falciparum during the dry and transmission-free season of eastern Sudan
International Journal for Parasitology, Volume 35, No. 1, Year 2005
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Description
Malaria in eastern Sudan is characterised by limited seasonal transmission, with the majority of the year remaining transmission-free. Some inhabitants who contract malaria during the transmission season retain long-lasting sub-patent infections, which probably initiate transmission the following year. Here we have monitored Plasmodium falciparum infection prevalence and gametocyte production during the dry season, and examined the impact of parasite genetic multiplicity on infection longevity. A cohort of 38 individuals who were infected with P. falciparum in November 2001 was monitored monthly by microscopy and PCR until December 2002. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction of the pfg377 gene was used to detect sub-patent gametocytes. In addition, all isolates were examined for msp-2 alleles and the mean number of parasite clones per infection was estimated. We found that a large proportion (40%) of the cohort retained gametocytes throughout the dry season. The majority of patients retained asexual infection for at least 7 months. Genetic multiplicity of P. falciparum significantly influenced longevity of asexual infection and its gametocyte production. Gametocytes from mixed genotype P. falciparum infections persisted three times longer than those from single genotype infections, suggesting that genetic diversity promotes persistence. These findings are discussed in the context of the parasite biology and malaria epidemiology in the study area. © 2004 Australian Society for Parasitology Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Authors & Co-Authors
Nassir, Elkhansaa
United Kingdom, Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh
Abdel-Muhsin, Abdel Muhsin A.
United Kingdom, Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh
Suliaman, Saud M.
United Kingdom, Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh
Kenyon, Fiona
Sudan, Khartoum
Tropical Medicine Research Institute Sudan
Kheir, Amani
Sudan, Khartoum
Tropical Medicine Research Institute Sudan
Geha, Haider
Oman, Muscat
Sultan Qaboos University
Ferguson, Heather M.
Sudan, Khartoum
Tropical Medicine Research Institute Sudan
Walliker, David
Sudan, Khartoum
Tropical Medicine Research Institute Sudan
Babiker, Hamza Ali
Sudan, Khartoum
Tropical Medicine Research Institute Sudan
Statistics
Citations: 116
Authors: 9
Affiliations: 3
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1016/j.ijpara.2004.10.014
ISSN:
00207519
Research Areas
Genetics And Genomics
Infectious Diseases
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Cohort Study
Study Locations
Sudan