Countrywide survey shows very high prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum multilocus resistance genotypes in Cambodia.

Abstract

Cambodia is located in an area of resistance to multiple antimalarials and has been the first country to implement the systematic use of an artesunate-mefloquine combination as first-line treatment for Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Little is known, however, about the prevalence of resistance mutations within the natural parasite populations, impeding rational drug policy in this context. Using direct sequencing of PCR products, we have analyzed sequence polymorphism of the dihydrofolate reductase-thymidylate synthase, dihydropteroate synthetase, and multidrug resistance 1 genes in a large number of clinical P. falciparum isolates collected in various areas of Cambodia. This highlighted a 100% prevalence of haplotypes with multiple mutations in the target genes of antifolates after more than a decade without use of antifolates for malaria therapy. A high prevalence of mutations in Pfmdr1, including mutations associated with decreased in vitro susceptibility to mefloquine and quinine, was also observed. In addition, novel, low-frequency mutations were detected in Pfmdr1. Our findings show an alarming rate of multilocus resistance genotypes in Cambodia, requiring diligent surveillance and imposing limitations on possible future drug combinations.

• Authors: Nimol Khim, Christiane Bouchier, Marie-Thérèse Ekala, Sandra Incardona, Pharath Lim, Eric Legrand, Ronan Jambou, Socheat Doung, Odile Mercereau Puijalon, Thierry Fandeur
• Journal: Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy (Antimicrob Agents Chemother) Vol. 49 Issue 8 Pg. 3147-52 (Aug 2005) ISSN: 0066-4804 [Print] United States
• PMID: 16048916 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters
• Antimalarials
• Protozoan Proteins
• mdr gene protein, Plasmodium
• Tetrahydrofolate Dehydrogenase
• Thymidylate Synthase
• Dihydropteroate Synthase

Topics

• ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters (genetics)
• Animals
• Antimalarials (pharmacology)
• Cambodia (epidemiology)
• Dihydropteroate Synthase (genetics)
• Drug Resistance, Multiple (genetics)
• Genes, Protozoan
• Genotype
• Humans
• Malaria, Falciparum (epidemiology, parasitology)
• Mutation
• Parasitic Sensitivity Tests
• Plasmodium falciparum (classification, drug effects, genetics)
• Prevalence
• Protozoan Proteins (genetics)
• Tetrahydrofolate Dehydrogenase (genetics)
• Thymidylate Synthase (genetics)