Parasites & Vectors (Jul 2015)

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

  • Wahib M. Atroosh,
  • Hesham M. Al-Mekhlafi,
  • Adel Al-Jasari,
  • Hany Sady,
  • Ahmed K. Al-Delaimy,
  • Nabil A. Nasr,
  • Salwa Dawaki,
  • Awatif M. Abdulsalam,
  • Init Ithoi,
  • Yee Ling Lau,
  • Mun Yik Fong,
  • Johari Surin

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-015-1008-x
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8, no. 1
pp. 1 – 8

Abstract

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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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