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Malaria Journal
Published in: Malaria Journal 1/2011

Open Access 01-12-2011 | Research

Prevalence of molecular markers of anti-malarial drug resistance in Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum in two districts of Nepal

Authors: Samir Ranjitkar, Mette L Schousboe, Thomas Thyge Thomsen, Madhav Adhikari, Christian MO Kapel, Ib C Bygbjerg, Michael Alifrangis

Published in: Malaria Journal | Issue 1/2011

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Abstract

Background

Sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) and chloroquine (CQ) have been used in treatment of falciparum and vivax malaria in Nepal. Recently, resistance to both drugs have necessitated a change towards artemisinin combination therapy (ACT) against Plasmodium falciparum in highly endemic areas. However, SP is still used against P. falciparum infections in low endemic areas while CQ is used in suspected cases in areas with lack of diagnostic facilities. This study examines the prevalence of molecular markers of CQ and SP resistance in P. falciparum and Plasmodium vivax to determine if high levels of in vivo resistance are reflected at molecular level as well.

Methods

Finger prick blood samples (n = 189) were collected from malaria positive patients from two high endemic districts and analysed for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the resistance related genes of P. falciparum and P. vivax for CQ (Pfcrt, Pfmdr1, Pvmdr1) and SP (Pfdhfr, Pfdhps, Pvdhfr), using various PCR-based methods.

Results and discussion

Positive P. vivax and P. falciparum infections were identified by PCR in 92 and 41 samples respectively. However, some of these were negative in subsequent PCRs. Based on a few P. falciparum samples, the molecular level of CQ resistance in P. falciparum was high since nearly all parasites had the Pfcrt mutant haplotypes CVIET (55%) or SVMNT (42%), though frequency of the Pfmdr1 wild type haplotype was relatively low (35%). Molecular level of SP resistance in P. falciparum was found to be high. The most prevalent Pfdhfr haplotype was double mutant CNRNI (91%), while frequency of Pfdhps double mutant SGEAA and AGEAA were 38% and 33% respectively. Combined, the frequency of quadruple mutations (CNRNI-SGEAA/AGEAA) was 63%. Based on P. vivax samples, low CQ and SP resistance were most likely due to low prevalence of Pvmdr1 Y976F mutation (5%) and absence of triple/quadruple mutations in Pvdhfr.

Conclusions

Based on the limited number of samples, prevalence of CQ and SP resistance at molecular levels in the population in the study area were determined as high in P. falciparum and low in P. vivax. Therefore, CQ could still be used in the treatment of P. vivax infections, but this remains to be tested in vivo while the change to ACT for P. falciparum seems justified.
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Metadata
Title
Prevalence of molecular markers of anti-malarial drug resistance in Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum in two districts of Nepal
Authors
Samir Ranjitkar
Mette L Schousboe
Thomas Thyge Thomsen
Madhav Adhikari
Christian MO Kapel
Ib C Bygbjerg
Michael Alifrangis
Publication date
01-12-2011
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Malaria Journal / Issue 1/2011
Electronic ISSN: 1475-2875
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2875-10-75

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