BACKGROUND: Plasmodium falciparum the main causative agent of malaria is an 
important public health vector. With the use of PCR, its genetic diversity has 
been extensively studied with dearth information from Nigeria.
METHODS: In this study, 100 P. falciparum strains merozoite surface protein 
1(msp-1), merozoite surface protein 2 (msp-2) and Glutamate rich protein (Glurp) 
from Ogun State General Hospitals were characterized. The genetic diversity of 
P. falciparum isolates was analyzed by restriction fragment length polymorphism 
following gel electrophoresis of DNA products from nested polymerase chain 
reactions (PCR) of their respective allelic families KI, MAD 20, RO33 
(MSP-1);FC27, 3D7 (MSP-2) and Glutamate rich protein respectively.
RESULTS: Majority of the patients showed monoclonal infections while 
multiplicity of the infection for msp-1 and msp-2 were 1.1 and 1.2 respectively. 
The estimated number of genotypes was 8 msp-1 (4 KI; 3 MAD; 1 RO33) and 6 msp-2 
(3 FC27; 3 3D7). 80% of the isolates coded for Glurp with allelic size ranged 
between 700 and 900 bp.
CONCLUSION: The allelic distributions however were similar to those previously 
reported in other endemic malaria countries. Future studies will be designed to 
include other malaria endemic regions of Nigeria such as the oil exploration 
regions.