Distribution of Plasmodium falciparum Chloroquine Resistance Transporter (Pfcrt) and Plasmodium falciparum Multidrug Resistance 1(Pfmdr-1) Genes in Ilorin North-central Nigeria

Abstract

Malaria remains a major health problem globally, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa. The ease of developing resistance to anti-malaria drugs by Plasmodium falciparum is a serious challenge to malaria control and elimination programs. Consequently, continuous monitoring of drug efficacy is necessary to ascertain effective treatment policies. The study investigated the distribution pattern of these genes in Plasmodium falciparum isolates in Ilorin metropolis. One hundred and three samples were collected randomly from 5 hospitals in Ilorin metropolis. The samples were amplified at codon 76 and 86 for Pfcrt and Pfmdr-1 respectively using PCR/Restricted Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP). Drug susceptible alleles were most prevalent in the study area (K76 and N86) with 31% and 40% respectively, followed by drug resistance alleles (86Y) with 13%, and the least prevalent (2%) was the mixed alleles K76T.  UITH has the highest number of susceptible alleles followed by CSC 38% and 46% for K76 and N86 respectively. There are significant differences in the distribution of these alleles and the study sites (P55< 0.05). The prevalence of resistance alleles in the area is a welcome development that can be employed for the possible re-introduction of CQ to treat malaria in the study area. It will be an advantage over expensive ACT because it is safe, cheap, and readily affordable.