Prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum mutations associated with antimalarial drug resistance during an epidemic in Kuna Yala, Panama, Central America.
A molecular epidemiology study was conducted to determine the distribution of antimalarial drug resistance alleles among field isolates of Plasmodium falciparum. Samples were obtained during an epidemic affecting Kuna Amerindians in Panama. A high prevalence of mutations associated with chloroquine, pyrimethamine, and sulfadoxine was observed. Genotype analysis of msp2 revealed a low genetic diversity of P. falciparum parasites circulating in the studied area. The public health implications of these findings for the Central American region are discussed.
Samudio
Franklyn
F
Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudio de la Salud, ICGES, Panama, Republic of Panama.
Santamaría
Ana M
AM
Obaldía
Nicanor
N
Pascale
Juan M
JM
Bayard
Vicente
V
Calzada
Jose E
JE
D000818:Animals; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004351:Drug Resistance / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D009154:Mutation; D010176:Panama / Q000453:epidemiology; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics*; D015995:Prevalence; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000235:genetics
D000962:Antimalarials; D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D015800:Protozoan Proteins