Exploring the relationship between Plasmodium falciparum genetic diversity and antimalarial drugs resistance markers in a malaria-endemic region of Burkina Faso.

Introduction: the diversity of Plasmodium falciparum genotypes affects the dynamics of malaria transmission and is thought to be one of the factors hampering malaria control efforts. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between Plasmodium falciparum genetic diversity and chloroquine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine resistance markers in malaria endemic areas of Burkina Faso.

Methods: in a cross-sectional study, populations residing in Nouna health district were randomly recruited. Blood samples were used for microscopic malaria diagnosis, and genetic polymorphism alleles of msp1 and msp2 genotyping by nested PCR. Restricted fragment length polymorphism analysis was used to identify antimalarial resistance markers. Logistic regression analysis explored the association between msp1/msp2 alleles and antimalarial drug resistance markers. ANOVA was used to explore the association between the mean complexity of infection (mCOI) and prevalence of resistance markers.

Results: the overall prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum infection was 27.1%. The proportions of K1, MAD20, RO33, FC27, 3D7 individuals with mutations in the pfcrt76T gene were 4.3%, 6.9%, 7.0%, 6.8% and 7.1% respectively. Those with mutations in pfmdr1 were 2.7%, 2%, 2.3%, 6.8% and 7.1%. No significant associations were detected between msp1/msp2 alleles and chloroquine or sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine resistance markers. However, the mean complexity of infection (mCOI) was significantly higher in individuals with the pfcrt76T mutation.

Conclusion: overall, this study showed that the genetic diversity of Plasmodium falciparum does not significantly affect the presence of antimalarial drug resistance genes. The competition between different strains (polyclonality) of the parasite within the host was probably unfavorable for mutant strains.