Genetic diversity of P. falciparum and pathogenesis of the severe malarial anaemia in children under 5 years old in the province of Boulgou, Burkina Faso

The clinical presentation of malaria mainly the severe form may be related to Plasmodium falciparum msp-2 (merozoite surface protein 2) specific family To verify this hypothesis, during the high malaria transmission season in 2001; we analyzed the allelic polymorphism of the msp-2 gene of P. falciparum in children under 5 years old with different presentation of malaria in the regional Hospital and at community level in the Boulgou Province (Burkina Faso). A total of 405 children (107 severe malarial anaemia cases, 102 severe malaria cases without severe anaemia and 196 non severe malaria cases) were enrolled in the study. The frequencies of the FC27 were 89.2% in severe malarial anaemia children group, then 89.7% and 86.9% respectively in severe malaria non anaemic children cases and non severe malaria cases (P = 0.4). The frequencies of the 3D7 were 72.5%; 84.1% and 77% respectively severe malaria non anaemic children, severe malarial anaemia cases and non severe malaria cases (P = 0.7). The complexity of the FC27 genotypes was significantly higher in children with severe malaria (with and without severe anaemia) compared to the non severe malarial children (P < 0.001). No significant difference was pointed up in the complexity of the 3D7 genotypes.