Detection of Duffy blood group genotypes and submicroscopic Plasmodium infections using molecular diagnostic assays in febrile malaria patients

• Published in: Malaria journal 2024-06, Vol.23 (1), p.194-10, Article 194
• Main Authors: Abagero, Beka R, Rama, Rei, Obeid, Abdulghani, Tolosa, Tirusew, Lukas, Biniyam, Teka, Taye, Tesfaye, Daniel, Lo, Eugenia, Yewhalaw, Delenasaw
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Blood group antigens; Child; Child, Preschool; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diagnosis; Duffy Blood-Group System - genetics; Duffy genotype; Ethiopia - epidemiology; Female; Fever; Fever - parasitology; Genotype; Humans; Hyperthermia; Infant; Malaria; Malaria, Falciparum - diagnosis; Malaria, Falciparum - epidemiology; Malaria, Falciparum - parasitology; Malaria, Vivax - diagnosis; Malaria, Vivax - parasitology; Male; Medical research; Medicine, Experimental; Microscopy; Middle Aged; Molecular diagnostic techniques; Molecular Diagnostic Techniques - methods; Plasmodium falciparum - genetics; Plasmodium falciparum - isolation & purification; Plasmodium vivax; Plasmodium vivax - genetics; Plasmodium vivax - isolation & purification; Prevalence; Quantitative PCR; Submicroscopic Plasmodium infection; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1475-2875; 1475-2875
• DOI: 10.1186/s12936-024-04875-5

Malaria remains a severe parasitic disease, posing a significant threat to public health and hindering economic development in sub-Saharan Africa. Ethiopia, a malaria endemic country, is facing a resurgence of the disease with a steadily rising incidence. Conventional diagnostic methods, such as microscopy, have become less effective due to low parasite density, particularly among Duffy-negative human populations in Africa. To develop comprehensive control strategies, it is crucial to generate data on the distribution and clinical occurrence of Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum infections in regions where the disease is prevalent. This study assessed Plasmodium infections and Duffy antigen genotypes in febrile patients in Ethiopia. Three hundred febrile patients visiting four health facilities in Jimma town of southwestern Ethiopia were randomly selected during the malaria transmission season (Apr-Oct). Sociodemographic information was collected, and microscopic examination was performed for all study participants. Plasmodium species and parasitaemia as well as the Duffy genotype were assessed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) for all samples. Data were analysed using Fisher's exact test and kappa statistics. The Plasmodium infection rate by qPCR was 16% (48/300) among febrile patients, of which 19 (39.6%) were P. vivax, 25 (52.1%) were P. falciparum, and 4 (8.3%) were mixed (P. vivax and P. falciparum) infections. Among the 48 qPCR-positive samples, 39 (13%) were negative by microscopy. The results of bivariate logistic regression analysis showed that agriculture-related occupation, relapse and recurrence were significantly associated with Plasmodium infection (P