Molecular Epidemiology of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) in Plasmodium falciparum Dihydropteroate Synthase and P. falciparum Dihydrofolate Reductase Genes among Pregnant Women in Sokoto Metropolis, Sokoto, Nigeria

Abstract

Malaria continues to cause significant morbidity and mortality in pregnant women despite the implementation of various interventions. Currently, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends Sulfadoxine/Pyrimethamine (SP) for intermittent preventive treatment during pregnancy (SP-IPTp) in the second and third trimesters. However, the efficacy of SP is threatened by the emergence of Plasmodium falciparum dihydropteroate synthase (Pfdhps)and Plasmodium falciparum dihydrofolate reductase (Pfdhfr) genes that confer resistance against sulfadoxine and pyrimethamine respectively. This research was aimed to determine the prevalence of Pfdhps and Pfdhfr genes among pregnant women attending antenatal care (ANC) in the Sokoto metropolis. Thirty-two (32) blood samples of malaria-infected pregnant women who came for ANC between April and July 2024 were evaluated for single nucleotide polymorphisms of Pfdhps and Pfdhfr genes via polymerase chain reaction (PCR) protocol. It was interesting to note that, none of the antimalarial drug-resistant genes was detected from the isolates tested. This finding has validated the efficacy of Sulfadoxine/Pyrimethamine for intermittent preventive treatment of malaria during pregnancy in Sokoto metropolis. It is therefore recommended that health facilities should continue to issue SP for IPTp in line with WHO guidelines.