Plasmodium falciparum merozoite protein-1 genetic diversity and multiplicity of infection in isolates from Congolese children consulting in a pediatric hospital in Brazzaville

Overall the multiplicity of infection (MOI) was 1.7. According to type of infection, the MOI was significantly higher in children with microscopic infection (2.5 vs 1.4 for submicroscopic infection, P = .001). When considering age, hemoglobin genotype (AA or AS) and level and parasite density, no association was observed with the MOI. This study reveals that the P. falciparum genetic diversity in isolates from Congolese children is high but with low multiplicity of infection.