Abstract

Malaria elimination activities are facing new threats, such as the global COVID-19 pandemic, which may deprioritize efforts to track the emergence of resistance to antimalarial drugs. This study aimed to determine the profile of genes for antimalarial drug resistance in Plateau State, North-central, Nigeria.This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted from January to September 2018 by screening 3114 asymptomatic participants for Plasmodium falciparum malaria using Giemsa-stained thick and thin smears. Total genomic DNA was extracted from the blood of participants using Quick-DNATM Miniprep (Zymo Research) extraction kit to perform Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and detect Plasmodium falciparum multidrug resistance 1 (Pfmdr1), P. falciparum dihydrofolate reductase (Pfdhfr), P. falciparum dihydropteroate synthase (Pfdhps) and P. falciparum K13 propeller (PfK13) genes from the isolates obtained. The prevalence of malaria observed was 13.2%. Of the 206 samples tested for the genes, 31(15.0%) were positive for Pfdhfr gene, 124(60.2%) were positive Pfdhps gene, 29(14.1%) were positive for the Pfmdr1 gene while 82(39.8%) were positive for the PfK13 propeller gene. There was a significant association between the drug resistance genes and senatorial zones (p=0.012). The Pfdhps gene was the most prevalent gene encountered (p= 0.002). Drug selection pressure could be accelerating the advent of drug resistance genes to Artemisinin Combination Therapies in North-central Nigeria particularly on Sulphadoxine Pyrimethamine (SP) in Plateau State’s Southern Senatorial zone. The high prevalence of the Pfdhps gene requires close tracking for the use of Sulphadoxine Pyrimethamine for intermittent prophylactic treatment of malaria. Genotyping studies are urgently needed to investigate the situation further.

Key words: Malaria, COVID-19 pandemic, Plasmodium falciparum, Nigeria.