Molecular surveillance of malaria in the Central Highlands, Vietnam

Tuấn Cường Võ, Hương Giang Lê, Jung Mi Kang, Haung Naw, Chia Kwung Fan, Nguyen Thi Minh Trinh, Huynh Hong Quang, Byoung Kuk Na

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Vietnam achieved outstanding success against malaria in the last few decades. The mortality and morbidity of malaria in Vietnam have decreased remarkably in recent years, but malaria is still a major public health concern in the country, particularly in the Central Highlands region. In this study, molecular analyses of malaria parasites in the Central Highlands were performed to understand the population structure and genetic diversity of the parasites circulating in the region. Plasmodium falciparum (68.7%) and P. vivax (27.4%) along with mixed infections with P. falciparum/P. vivax (3.9%) were detected in 230 blood samples from patients with malaria. Allele-specific nested-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analyses of pfmsp-1, pfama-1, pvcsp, and pvmsp-1 revealed complex genetic makeup in P. falciparum and P. vivax populations of Vietnam. Substantial multiplicity of infection (MOI) was also identified, suggesting significant genetic diversity and polymorphism of P. falciparum and P. vivax populations in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. These results provide fundamental insight into the current patterns of dispersion and genetic nature of malaria parasites as well as for the development of malaria elimination strategies in the endemic region.

Original languageEnglish
Article number102374
JournalParasitology International
Volume83
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2021

Keywords

  • Genetic diversity
  • Malaria
  • Plasmodium falciparum
  • Plasmodium vivax
  • Vietnam

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Parasitology
  • Infectious Diseases

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