Genetic Variability of Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine-Resistant Plasmodium Species among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Health Facilities in Nasarawa-South Senatorial Zone, Nigeria
Danjuma J *
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nigeria
Ngwai Y. B
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nigeria
Nkene I. H
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nigeria
Abdulmumin R. I
Department of Basic Sciences (Microbiology), Phoenix University, Agawda, Nasarawa State, Nigeria
Bolarinwa O. F
Department of Microbiology, Federal University, Lokoja, Kogi State, Nigeria.
Ishaleku D
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nigeria
Tama, S. C
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nigeria
Asogwa, I. S
Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Bingham University, Karu, Nasarawa State, Nigeria.
Agondo, D. I
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nigeria
Imokhe G. A
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nigeria
Igbawua I. N
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nigeria
Yakubu S
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nigeria
Okpalaeke N. B
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nigeria
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aims: This study investigates the genetic variability of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine resistance genes in Plasmodium species from pregnant women attending Health facilities in Nasarawa-South Senatorial Zone, Nasarawa State, Nigeria.
Study Design: Cross sectional study.
Place and Duration of Study: General Hospital Doma, (GHD), General Hospital Keana (GHK), General Hospital Obi (GHO), Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital, Lafia (DASHL), and Department of Microbiology, Nasarawa State University, Keffi between October 2024 and July 2025.
Methodology: A total of 45 malaria parasite blood positive samples from our previous studies were used for DNA extraction. The speciation of Plasmodium and detection of dhfr and dhps genes mediating Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine resistance were carried out using the polymerase chain reaction method. The polymorphism in dhfr and dhps genes mediating Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine were analysed by Sanger DNA sequencing.
Results: The Plasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum) and Plasmodium ovale (P. ovale) were found to be prevalent among the pregnant women of which P. falciparum (33/45; 73.3%) was found to be more prevalent than Plasmodium ovale (12/45; 26.7%). The dhfr gene was detected only in the P. falciparum and the prevalence was (7/33; 21.2%) but none of the P. falciparum and P. ovale carried the dhps gene. The pfdhfr mutation at codon N51I, C59R, and S108N was 100.0% in Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine resistant P. falciparum. The Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine resistant P. falciparum, due to mutation at codon N51I, C59R, and S108N, were prevalent among the pregnant women in the study centres.
Conclusion: The study highlights that a high prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum parasites with mutations in the dhfr gene (specifically N51I, C59R, and S108N) associated with Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine (SP) resistance is rampant among pregnant women in the Nasarawa-South Senatorial Zone, Nigeria. The absence of the dhps gene in the sampled population, does not mitigate the significant threat posed by the established triple dhfr mutations. These findings indicate a concerning level of SP resistance, which could severely compromise the efficacy of this regimen for the intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy (IPTp) in this region. Urgent surveillance and a review of current malaria prevention strategies for pregnant women is suggested.
Keywords: Plasmodium, malaria, pregnancy, sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine, resistance