Single-strand conformational polymorphism analysis differentiates Plasmodium falciparum treatment failures from re-infections.
Paired primary and recrudescent Plasmodium falciparum isolates were collected from treatment failures identified during the course of antimalarial drug studies on the Thai-Cambodian border. Ten paired samples were subjected to PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and PCR-single-strand conformational polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) analysis of the MSP-2 gene. PCR-SSCP analysis of paired samples demonstrated that each recrudescent isolate was identical to, or a subpopulation of, its matched primary isolate and was distinct from all unrelated isolates. This method represents a field applicable method to distinguish re-infections from treatment failures when antimalarial drug studies are performed in malaria-endemic areas.
Kain
K C
KC
Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Canada. kkain@torhosp.toronto.on.ca
Craig
A A
AA
Ohrt
C
C
D000818:Animals; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002160:Cambodia; D006801:Humans; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D018807:Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational; D012008:Recurrence; D013785:Thailand; D017211:Treatment Failure
D000962:Antimalarials