Abstract

Gnagne AP, Konate A, Bedia-Tanoh AV, Amiah-Droh M, Menan EI, N

Plasmodium asymptomatic carriers are considered as parasite reservoir in humans. Therefore, they can be at the origin of the expansion of chemoresistant plasmodial strains. In order to be effective, new strategies for malaria elimination must take into account these individuals. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum pfcrt76T allele in asymptomatic versus symptomatic children in different epidemiological areas of Côte d'Ivoire. It was conducted from May 2015 to April 2016 in the rural and urban areas of Grand-Bassam, Abengourou and San Pedro during the rainy and the dry seasons. A total of 2361 blood samples were collected from schoolchildren. The plasmodial prevalence was 40%. P. falciparum was the majority species with 95.7%. Fifteen percent or 360 blood samples were drawn for setting Nested PCR. The overall prevalence of pfcrt76T allele was 15.8%. This prevalence of pfcrt76T was 17% and 15% in asymptomatic and symptomatic patients respectively (p = 0.7098). The prevalence of pfcrt76T allele was not associated with the geographical area and the clinical status of the carrier. However, it was linked to the intensity of P. falciparum transmission.