Genetic diversity and genotype multiplicity of Plasmodium falciparum infections in symptomatic individuals in the maritime region of Togo

Objective To assess the genotype prevalence and the multiplicity of Plasmodium falciparum infections in the maritime region of Togo. METHODS We enrolled 309 symptomatic individuals aged from 6 months to 15 years from Be/Lome and Tsevie, two malaria endemic zones. The number and the proportions of merozoite surface proteins 1, 2 and 3 genotypes in patients were determined using capillary electrophoresis genotyping. We further investigated the possible association between transaminases and homocysteine, and the severity of the disease. RESULTS Of the 309 samples genotyped, 210 tested positive to msp-1, 227 to msp-2 and 193 to msp-3. The nested PCR revealed 22 different alleles for the allelic family msp-1, 33 for msp-2 and 13 for msp-3. At each locus, the family distribution was 54.58% of K1, 25% of MAD20 and 20.42% of RO33 for msp-1, and 51.71% and 48.29% of FC27 and 3D7, respectively, for msp-2. For all these allelic variants, the distribution was associated with neither the severity of malaria nor the zone of habitation. Pearson correlation coefficients between either the levels of homocysteine or the transaminase and the severity of the disease were very low. CONCLUSION The severity of malaria was not associated with higher multiplicity of infections and did not appear restricted to particular genotypes. More comprehensive explorations including immunity, genetic factors, nutritional and sociologic status of the population could clarify the situation.