Plasmodium falciparum Genetic Diversity and Resistance Genotype Profile in Infected Placental Samples Collected After Delivery in Ouagadougou

Haffsatou Sawadogo,1,2 Issiaka Soulama,3,4 Adama Zida,2,5 Cheikna Zongo,1 Patindoilba Marcel Sawadogo,2,5 Kiswendsida Thierry Guiguemde,5,6 Seni Nikiema,7 Salimata Emilie Badoum,1,8 Salam Sawadogo,7 Aïcha Tou,4 Salif Sombié,4 Chanolle Tchekounou,1,9 Sindié Samuel Sermé,1,8 Rasmata Ouedraogo-Traoré,9 Tinga Robert Guiguemdé,10 Aly Savadogo1 1Laboratory of Applied Biochemistry and Immunology (LABIA), Joseph KI - ZERBO University, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; 2Parasitology-Mycology Department, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Yalgado Ouédraogo (CHU-YO), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; 3Health Science Research Institute (IRSS), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; 4National Malaria Research and Training Center (CNRFP), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; 5Health Sciences Training and Research Unit (UFR/SDS), Joseph KI - ZERBO University, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; 6Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Pédiatrique – Charles de Gaulle (CHU-CDG), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; 7Molecular Biology and Genetics Laboratory (LABIOGENE), Joseph KI - ZERBO University, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; 8Health Action Research Group (GRAS), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; 9International Institute of Science and Technology (Iistech), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; 10Parasitology-Mycology Laboratory, National Institute of Health Sciences (INSP), Nazi Boni University, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina FasoCorrespondence: Cheikna Zongo, Laboratory of Applied Biochemistry and Immunology (LABIA), Joseph KI - ZERBO University, Burkina Faso 03 BP 7021 Ouagadougou 03, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, Tel +226 76579605, Fax +226 25307242, Email Cheikna.zongo@ujkz.bfPurpose: Intermittent preventive treatment with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine is widely used for the prevention of malaria in pregnant women in Africa. Known resistance cases of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine during pregnancy need to be follow up to support IPTp implementation in Burkina Faso. However, data on the development and spread of resistance to this molecule are lacking. This study aimed to investigating the genetic diversity of P. falciparum and the mutation prevalence in the dhfr and dhps genes infected from postpartum infected placentas.Patients and Methods: This was a prospective and cross-sectional study conducted between April 2019 and March 2020 in four health districts of Ouagadougou capital city. From the placentas collected after delivery, P. falciparum detection and mps1 and msp2 polymorphism analysis were performed by nested PCR. The resistance profile was checked after analyzing the mutation point on dhfr and dhps genes.Results: PCR-positive samples were estimated at 96% for msp1 and 98% for msp2. The polymorphism analysis showed that the RO33 and 3D7 allelic families were the most widespread with 62.5% and 91.83%, respectively. Multiple infections by msp1 and msp2 were frequent with 12.50% and 92.92%, respectively. The prevalence of individual dhfr mutation point, 51I, 108A, and 59R, was 1.96, 15.68, and 7.84, respectively, and the dhps mutation point, 437G, was 3.92. There is no detected mutation at the point 164L and 540E. The triple (51I+108A+59R) in dhfr and quadruple (51I+108A+59R+ 437G) mutation were not found.Conclusion: The results showed that Plasmodium falciparum has a high genetic diversity of msp1 and msp2. This suggests that dhfr and dhps mutant genotypes are potential early warning factors in the increase in the sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine resistance.Keywords: sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine, Plasmodium falciparum, msp1, msp2, dhfr, dhps, placenta