Chloroquine prophylaxis associated with high prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum pfcrt K76T mutation in people with sickle-cell disease in Benin City, Nigeria.
OBJECTIVE
High mortality and morbidity in sickle-cell disease has been associated with malaria infection especially in countries where chloroquine is used. Chloroquine resistance has been associated with the emergence of Pfcrt mutant genes. This study aimed at comparing the prevalence rate of Pfcrt T76 mutation in Plasmodium falciparum isolates from infected individuals with sickle-cell disease and sickle-cell trait. This study was carried out in Benin City between the months of April and June 2006. This period is marked with high transmission rate of malaria.


METHODS
The genotype of the subjects was screened using haemoglobin electrophoresis system and the P. falciparum. Pfcrt genotyping was carried out using PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP).


RESULTS
Four hundred and twenty-four subjects comprising of 207 haemoglobin AA, 136 haemoglobin AS and 81 haemoglobin SS typed individuals were enrolled for this study. No significant difference existed in the prevalence rate of malaria in the three groups (p > 0.05). However, the prevalence rate of Pfcrt K76T mutant gene was higher in the haemoglobin SS genotyped individuals than the haemoglobin AA and AS subjects (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
An uncontrolled use of chloroquine has been incriminated as the major cause of chloroquine resistance in Nigeria. Therefore, rapid intervention measures are needed as a matter of urgency to curb the up rise in the prevalence of the chloroquine resistant genes in our environment.
Tatfeng
Y M
YM
Biotechnology Unit, Lahor Research Laboratories, Benin City College of Health Sciences, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island. youtchou@yahoo.com
Agbonlahor
D E
DE
Tchounga
K S
KS
Omolu
P I
PI
Okodua
M
M
Yah
C S
CS
Adeolu
A
A
D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000150:complications*; D000818:Animals; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018890:Chemoprevention; D002738:Chloroquine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004351:Drug Resistance / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D009154:Mutation; D009549:Nigeria; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D015995:Prevalence; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D012805:Sickle Cell Trait
D000962:Antimalarials; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; C416369:PfCRT protein, Plasmodium falciparum; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D002738:Chloroquine