Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39543779›Full record

ArticleTropical medicine and health2024

Plasmodium falciparum genetic diversity and multiplicity of infection among asymptomatic and symptomatic malaria-infected individuals in Uganda.

Alex Mwesigwa, Moses Ocan, Bryan Cummings, Benson Musinguzi, Shahid Kiyaga, Steven M Kiwuwa, Stephen Okoboi, Barbara Castelnuovo, Everd Maniple Bikaitwoha, Joan N Kalyango and 4 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Tropical medicine and health, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Antigenic and genotypic relatedness of buffalo-derivedInternational journal for parasitology. Parasites and wildlife · 2026
    Article
  2. Genetic Diversity and Allelic Distribution ofJournal of parasitology research · 2026
    Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors.

Alex MwesigwaClinical Epidemiology Unit, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, P. O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda. mwesigwaalex@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7544-3872
Moses OcanDepartment of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda.
Bryan CummingsMalaria Research Program, Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 655 W. Baltimore St, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA.
Benson MusinguziDepartent of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Muni University, P.O Box 725, Arua, Uganda.
Shahid KiyagaDepartment of Immunology and Molecular Biology, School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda.
Steven M KiwuwaDepartment of Biochemistry, School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Makerere, University, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda.
Stephen OkoboiInfectious Diseases Institute, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, P. O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda.
Barbara CastelnuovoInfectious Diseases Institute, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, P. O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda.
Everd Maniple BikaitwohaDepartment of Community Health, School of Medicine, Kabale University, P. O Box 314, Kabale, Uganda.
Joan N KalyangoClinical Epidemiology Unit, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, P. O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda.
Charles KaramagiClinical Epidemiology Unit, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, P. O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda.
Joaniter I NankabirwaClinical Epidemiology Unit, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, P. O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda.
Samuel L NsobyaInfectious Diseases Research Collaboration, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda.
Pauline Byakika-KibwikaInfectious Diseases Institute, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, P. O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda.

Funding

EDCTP3 ID TMA 2017CDF-1943.
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPlasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum) remains a significant public health challenge globally, especially in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where it accounts for 99% of all malaria infections. The outcomes of P. falciparum infection vary, ranging from asymptomatic to severe, and are associated with factors such as host immunity, parasite genetic diversity, and multiplicity of infection (MOI). Using seven neutral microsatellite markers, the current study investigated P. falciparum genetic diversity and MOI in both asymptomatic and symptomatic malaria individuals in Uganda.

methodsThis cross-sectional study analyzed 225 P. falciparum isolates from both asymptomatic and symptomatic malaria patients, ranging in age from 6 months to ≥ 18 years. P. falciparum genetic diversity, MOI, and multi-locus linkage disequilibrium (LD) were assessed through genotyping of seven neutral microsatellite markers: Poly-α, TA1, TA109, PfPK2, 2490, C2M34-313, and C3M69-383. Genetic data analysis was performed using appropriate genetic analysis software.

resultsP. falciparum infections exhibited high genetic diversity in both asymptomatic and symptomatic individuals. The mean expected heterozygosity (He) ranged from 0.79 in symptomatic uncomplicated malaria cases to 0.81 in asymptomatic individuals. There was no significant difference (p = 0.33) in MOI between individuals with asymptomatic and symptomatic infections, with the mean MOI ranging from 1.92 in symptomatic complicated cases to 2.10 in asymptomatic individuals. Polyclonal infections were prevalent, varying from 58.5% in symptomatic complicated malaria to 63% in symptomatic uncomplicated malaria cases. A significant linkage disequilibrium (LD) was observed between asymptomatic and symptomatic uncomplicated/complicated infections (p < 0.01). Genetic differentiation was low, with F

conclusionThere is a high level of P. falciparum genetic diversity and MOI among both symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals in Uganda. Asymptomatic carriers harbor a diverse range of parasites, which poses challenges for malaria control and necessitates targeted interventions to develop effective strategies.

Indexed as

Genetic diversityMalariaMultiplicity of infectionP. falciparumUganda

Identifiers

PMID39543779
PMCPMC11562702

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.