Genetic complexity of Plasmodium falciparum in two ethnic groups of Burkina Faso with marked differences in susceptibility to malaria

Giacomo M. Paganotti*, Hamza A. Babiker, David Modiano, Bienvenu S. Sirima, Federica Verra, Amadou Konaté, André L. Ouédraogo, Amidou Diarra, Margaret J. Mackinnon, Mario Coluzzi, David Walliker

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

19 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We have characterized Plasmodium falciparum genotypes among the Mossi and Fulani sympatric ethnic groups in villages in Burkina Faso during the rainy season. Differences in clinical malaria presentation and in immune responses to malaria occur between the two groups. Asexual parasite rate, density, and gametocyte rate were higher among the Mossi than the Fulani. There was no difference in frequencies of alleles of the P. falciparum merozoite surface protein 1 (msp-1), msp-2, and glutamate-rich protein (glurp) genes among the parasites in each group. However, there were significant differences in the mean number of P. falciparum clones in the two populations, with there being more in the Mossi than in the Fulani. This effect was especially marked in older children. These differences can most probably be attributed to genetic differences in immune responsiveness to malaria between the two ethnic groups.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)173-178
Number of pages6
JournalAmerican Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Volume71
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2004
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Parasitology
  • Virology
  • Infectious Diseases

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