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. 2015 Jul 22:8:388.
doi: 10.1186/s13071-015-1008-x.

Genetic variation of pfhrp2 in Plasmodium falciparum isolates from Yemen and the performance of HRP2-based malaria rapid diagnostic test

Wahib M Atroosh  1   2 , Hesham M Al-Mekhlafi  3   4   5 , Adel Al-Jasari  6 , Hany Sady  7 , Ahmed K Al-Delaimy  8 , Nabil A Nasr  9 , Salwa Dawaki  10 , Awatif M Abdulsalam  11 , Init Ithoi  12 , Yee Ling Lau  13 , Mun Yik Fong  14 , Johari Surin  15
Affiliations

Genetic variation of pfhrp2 in Plasmodium falciparum isolates from Yemen and the performance of HRP2-based malaria rapid diagnostic test

Wahib M Atroosh et al. Parasit Vectors. .

Abstract

Background: The genetic variation in the Plasmodium falciparum histidine-rich protein 2 (pfhrp2) gene that may compromise the use of pfhrp2-based rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) for the diagnosis of malaria was assessed in P. falciparum isolates from Yemen.

Methods: This study was conducted in Hodeidah and Al-Mahwit governorates, Yemen. A total of 622 individuals with fever were examined for malaria by CareStart malaria HRP2-RDT and Giemsa-stained thin and thick blood films. The Pfhrp2 gene was amplified and sequenced from 180 isolates, and subjected to amino acid repeat types analysis.

Results: A total of 188 (30.2%) participants were found positive for P. falciparum by the RDT. Overall, 12 different amino acid repeat types were identified in Yemeni isolates. Six repeat types were detected in all the isolates (100%) namely types 1, 2, 6, 7, 10 and 12 while types 9 and 11 were not detected in any of the isolates. Moreover, the sensitivity and specificity of the used PfHRP2-based RDTs were high (90.5% and 96.1%, respectively).

Conclusion: The present study provides data on the genetic variation within the pfhrp2 gene, and its potential impact on the PfHRP2-based RDTs commonly used in Yemen. CareStart Malaria HRP2-based RDT showed high sensitivity and specificity in endemic areas of Yemen.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
A geographic map showing study area (Hodeidah and Al-Mahwit governorates) and the distribution of malaria in Yemen according to incidence in 2012
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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