Allelic dimorphism of the erythocyte binding antigen-175 (<it>eba</it>-175) gene of <it>Plasmodium falciparum </it>and severe malaria: Significant association of the C-segment with fatal outcome in Ghanaian children

• Main Authors: Otchwemah Rowland N, Dietz Ekkehardt, Dittrich Sabine, Möhl Ingo, Mockenhaupt Frank P, Cramer Jakob P, Ehrhardt Stephan, Bienzle Ulrich, Jelinek Tomas
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2004-05-01
• Series: Malaria Journal
• Online Access: http://www.malariajournal.com/content/3/1/11

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The erythrocyte binding antigen-175 (EBA-175) on <it>Plasmodium falciparum </it>merozoites mediates sialic acid dependent binding to glycophorin A on host erythrocytes and, therefore, plays a crucial role in cell invasion. Dimorphic allele segments have been found in its encoding gene with a 342 bp segment present in FCR-3 strains (F-segment) and a 423 bp segment in CAMP strains (C-segment). Possible associations of the dimorphism with severe malaria have been analysed in a case-control study in northern Ghana.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Blood samples of 289 children with severe malaria and 289 matched parasitaemic but asymptomatic controls were screened for <it>eba-</it>175 F- and C-segments by nested polymerase chain reaction.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In children with severe malaria, prevalences of F-, C- and mixed F-/C-segments were 70%, 19%, and 11%, respectively. The C-segment was found more frequently in severe malaria cases whereas mixed infections were more common in controls. Infection with strains harbouring the C-segment significantly increased the risk of fatal outcome.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The results show that the C-segment is associated with fatal outcome in children with severe malaria in northern Ghana, suggesting that it may contribute to the virulence of the parasite.</p>