Molecular Characterization of Genetic Diversity of Plasmodium falciparum Associated with Imported Cases of Malaria in Southeastern Region of Saudi Arabia

Growing global international travel has reflected significantly on the number of imported cases of malaria into non endemic regions of the world inclusive of Saudi Arabia were transmission of the disease is significantly controlled. This success in control could be challenged by the influx of imported cases of the disease. This research looks at the genetic diversity in merozoite proteins 1 and 2 (msp 1 and msp 2) of Plasmodium falciparum gene in imported malaria cases. Blood samples collected by pathology department were preserved as dried blood spot on WhatmanTM 903TM Protein saver card. Extraction of genomic DNA was with Qiagen QIAamp DNA kit Using primary and secondary nested PCR, Plasmodium species were classified with targeted primers. The nucleotides of KI, MAD20, RO33 msp 1 and 3D7, FC27 msp 2 of P. falciparum gene were sequenced by Macrogen (South Korea) and analyzed with BioEdit version 7 software. Frequencies of distribution of msp 1 and msp 2 allelic families varied, with statistically significant differences (p-value 0.001). Mono and poly clonal infections were also encountered. Clonal fragment sizes ranged between low (110 bp) to high (625 bp). Sequence analysis showed genetic diversity in imported malaria cases in the present study, indicating that current control measures might not be adequate to maintain the status quo.