Molecular monitoring of <it>Plasmodium falciparum</it> resistance to artemisinin in Tanzania
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) are recommended for use against uncomplicated malaria in areas of multi-drug resistant malaria, such as sub-Saharan Africa. However, their long-term usefulness in these high transmission areas remains unclear. It has...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2006-12-01
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| Series: | Malaria Journal |
| Online Access: | http://www.malariajournal.com/content/5/1/126 |
| Summary: | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) are recommended for use against uncomplicated malaria in areas of multi-drug resistant malaria, such as sub-Saharan Africa. However, their long-term usefulness in these high transmission areas remains unclear. It has been suggested that documentation of the S769N <it>PfATPase6 </it>mutations may indicate an emergence of artemisinin resistance of <it>Plasmodium falciparum </it>in the field. The present study assessed <it>PfATPase6 </it>mutations (S769N and A623E) in 615 asymptomatic <it>P. falciparum </it>infections in Tanzania but no mutant genotype was detected. This observation suggests that resistance to artemisinin has not yet been selected in Tanzania, supporting the Ministry of Health's decision to adopt artemether+lumefantrine as first-line malaria treatment. The findings recommend further studies to assess <it>PfATPase6 </it>mutations in sentinel sites and verify their usefulness in monitoring emergency of ACT resistance.</p> |
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| ISSN: | 1475-2875 |