Genetic profiling of Plasmodium falciparum antigenic biomarkers among asymptomatic pregnant women on intermittent preventive treatment with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine from southwest Nigeria.

Introduction: The genetic complexity of Plasmodium falciparum is contributory to the emergence of drug resistant-parasites. Intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (IPTp-SP) in malaria endemic settings is recommended by WHO. This study evaluated the prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum multidrug resistance-1 gene (Pfmdr-1), genetic diversity of merozoite surface proteins (msp-1, msp-2) and glutamate-rich protein (glurp) among pregnant women with sub-patent parasitaemia from southwest Nigeria.