Allelic polymorphism of msp1 and msp2 gene in severe p. falciparum malaria in an area of low and seasonal transmission

The severe malaria (SM) and uncomplicated malaria (UM) infections are expected to have different genetic makeup. In this study, blood samples were obtained from 268 patients with SM and UM infection. from Central Sudan Sennar state. The SM group included patients with cerebral malaria (CM), severe malarial anemia (SMA), and other complications. The MSP! And MSP2 locus was exploited for parasite genotyping. We found that the genetic diversity within the parasite population was marked (21 genotypes). The multiplicity of infection (MOI) was 62, and it was alike between SM and UM. The ratio of the IC1 to FC27 allele families was comparable between SM and UM, and differ between Mad20, K1 and Ro33 and SM and UM .The distribution of the allele sizes was. correlated P<0.001). Positive correlations evidenced between parasitemia with the allelic family of Mad20 and IC (P value= 0.004 and 0.001). Positive correlations evidenced between multiplicity of infection and Hb (P= 0.008), and between MOI and parasitemia (P= 0.00) . Also between MOI an allelic family of Mad 20,K1 and Ro33 (P= 0.00) .Relation between distinct alleles on one side and parasitemia on the other, as indicators for malaria severity were assessed by plotting different alleles against parasitemia. The results obtained show that, alleles of IC and Fc27 associate with severity of disease since those alleles were represented in the parasitemia (>5000 parasites/ µl blood).