| Summary: | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The erythrocyte binding antigen 175 (EBA-175) is a 175 kDa antigen of <it>Plasmodium falciparum </it>and plays a major role in erythrocyte recognition by the parasite. The antigen is also supposed to be partly responsible for the invasion of erythrocytes by merozoites. EBA-175 has been sequenced from the FCR-3 and CAMP strains of <it>P. falciparum. </it>The sequences were identical in most parts of the gene. Differences were apparent in a 423 bp segment in the FCR-3 strain, the F-Fragment, that is not found in the CAMP-strain and a 342 bp segment, the C-Fragment, which is present in the CAMP-strain but not in the FCR-3-strain. The aim of this study was to assess the distribution of the two EBA-175-alleles in the Lao PDR.</p> <p>Materials & Methods</p> <p>Altogether, 240 blood-samples were collected in two areas of the country: Attapeu in the south and Lung Namtha in the north. Subsequently, the material was scanned for the F-and C-fragments.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In the whole study population, 52% carried the F-fragment, and 41% the C-fragment while seven percent of the patients were infected with at least two parasite strains and showed both alleles.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Distribution of the alleles showed significant differences between the north and the south province. Reasons for this include possible importation of different parasite strains from neighbouring countries.</p>
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