Molecular analysis of recrudescent parasites in a Plasmodium falciparum drug efficacy trial in Gabon

L. C. Ranford-Cartwright*, J. Taylor, T. Umasunthar, L. H. Taylor, H. A. Babiker, B. Lell, J. R. Schmidt-Ott, L. G. Lehman, D. Walliker, P. G. Kremsner

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

101 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Recrudescent Plasmodium falciparum parasites were sampled from 108 children taking part in a drug efficacy trial in Gabon. A finger-prick blood sample was taken from each child before treatment, and a post-treatment sample taken of the recrudescent parasites. Sample deoxyribonucleic acid was amplified by the polymerase chain reaction using primers specific to the P. falciparum antigen genes MSP-1, MSP-2 and GLURP. Seventy-seven children had identical parasites in their pre- and post-treatment samples, indicating genuine recrudescences of resistant parasites. Fourteen children had completely different parasites in their pre- and post-treatment samples, indicating either a fresh infection from a mosquito or growth of a population of parasites not detected in the pre-treatment sample, perhaps due to sequestration. The remaining 17 children had a mixture of pre-treatment and new parasites in their post-treatment samples. This study demonstrated the use of polymorphic markers to confirm whether parasites in patients with clinical recrudescences after drug treatment are genuinely resistant.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)719-724
Number of pages6
JournalTransactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Volume91
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1997
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Drug resistance
  • Genotypes
  • Malaria
  • Plasmodium falciparum
  • Polymerase chain reaction
  • Recrudescence

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Parasitology
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
  • Infectious Diseases

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