Metagenomic complexity of high, seasonal transmission of Plasmodium spp. in asymptomatic carriers in Northern Sahelian Ghana

Abstract

Background: Mixed-species, mixed-strain plasmodia infections are known to occur in humans in malaria endemic areas. It may be surprising that to date, the extent of this complexity has not been systematically explored in high-burden countries of sub-Saharan Africa, especially in the reservoir of asymptomatic infections in all ages, which sustains transmission. Methods: Here we take a metagenomic lens to these infections by sampling variable blood volumes from 188 afebrile residents living in high, seasonal transmission in Northern Sahelian Ghana. We estimated multiplicity of infection for different Plasmodium spp. through genotyping of antigens and microsatellites. We further defined ‘metage..