Background: Due to the recently observed rise in Plasmodium vivax incidence in Sudan and reported transmission in Duffy-negative individuals; we aimed to assess the possibility of P. vivax transmission in Duffy-negative individuals in Gezira state, central Sudan.
Method: A total of 126 suspected malaria patients were diagnosed with P. vivax infection using microscopy, RDT and PCR. PCR-RFLP was used to genotype participants Duffy status.
Results: Forty eight (38%) were positive for P. vivax infection by PCR. Four patients (8.3%) were homozygous Duffy-negative.
Conclusion: These results confirm that P. vivax can infect Duffy-negative individuals, suggesting alternative mechanisms to bind and invade erythrocytes.
Keywords: Duffy antigen receptor; Gezira; Malaria; PCR; Plasmodium vivax; Sudan.
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