1. Pfhrp2-Deleted Plasmodium falciparum Parasites in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: A National Cross-sectional Survey.
- Author
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Parr, Jonathan B., Verity, Robert, Doctor, Stephanie M., Janko, Mark, Carey-Ewend, Kelly, Turman, Breanna J., Keeler, Corinna, Slater, Hannah C., Whitesell, Amy N., Mwandagalirwa, Kashamuka, Ghani, Azra C., Likwela, Joris L., Tshefu, Antoinette K., Emch, Michael, Juliano, Jonathan J., and Meshnick, Steven R.
- Subjects
PLASMODIIDAE ,PLASMODIUM ,PLASMODIUM falciparum ,BAYESIAN analysis ,BAYES' theorem ,MALARIA diagnosis ,ANTIGENS ,DNA ,MALARIA ,GENETIC mutation ,PROBABILITY theory ,PROTEINS ,PROTOZOA ,RESEARCH funding ,DISEASE prevalence ,CROSS-sectional method ,ROUTINE diagnostic tests - Abstract
Background: Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) account for more than two-thirds of malaria diagnoses in Africa. Deletions of the Plasmodium falciparum hrp2 (pfhrp2) gene cause false-negative RDT results and have never been investigated on a national level. Spread of pfhrp2-deleted P. falciparum mutants, resistant to detection by HRP2-based RDTs, would represent a serious threat to malaria elimination efforts.Methods: Using a nationally representative cross-sectional study of 7,137 children under five years of age from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), we tested 783 subjects with RDT-/PCR+ results using PCR assays to detect and confirm deletions of the pfhrp2 gene. Spatial and population genetic analyses were employed to examine the distribution and evolution of these parasites.Results: We identified 149 pfhrp2-deleted parasites, representing 6.4% of all P. falciparum infections country-wide (95% confidence interval 5.1-8.0%). Bayesian spatial analyses identified statistically significant clustering of pfhrp2 deletions near Kinshasa and Kivu. Population genetic analysis revealed significant genetic differentiation between wild-type and pfhrp2-deleted parasite populations (GST = .046, p ≤ .00001).Conclusions: Pfhrp2-deleted P. falciparum is a common cause of RDT-/PCR+ malaria among asymptomatic children in the DRC and appears to be clustered within select communities. Surveillance for these deletions is needed, and alternatives to HRP2-specific RDTs may be necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2017
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