Persistence of Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine Resistance Despite Reduction of Drug Pressure in Malawi.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In 2007, Malawi replaced sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) with an artemisinin-based combination therapy as the first-line treatment for uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in response to failing SP efficacy. Here we estimate the effect of reduced SP pressure on the prevalence of SP-resistant parasites and the characteristics of the associated selective sweeps flanking the resistance loci.

Methods

Samples obtained from individuals with clinical malaria during a period of high SP use (1999-2001), a transitional period (2007-2008), and a period of low SP use (2012) were genotyped for resistance markers at pfdhfr-ts codons 51, 59, and 108 and pfdhps codons 437, 540, and 581. Expected heterozygosity was estimated to evaluate the genetic diversity flanking pfdhfr-

SUBMITTER: Artimovich E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4539899 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature