title: First evidence of pfcrt mutant Plasmodium falciparum in Madagascar.
abstract: The island of Madagascar, lying in the Indian Ocean approximately 250 miles from the African coast, has so far remained one of the few areas in the world without noticeable Plasmodium falciparum high-grade chloroquine (CQ) resistance. Here we report genotyping data on pfcrt in Madagascar. The pfcrt K76T mutation, which is critical for resistance to CQ, was detected in six (3.3%) of 183 P. falciparum isolates screened, within the mutant haplotypes CVIET and CVIDT. This is the first observation of pfcrt mutant parasites on the island. The current massive distribution of CQ for in-home management of fever in children will promote the dissemination of these mutant CQ-resistant parasites. In this context, genotyping of pfcrt remains a useful tool for CQ resistance surveillance as the prevalence of pfcrt mutations is far from saturation in Madagascar.
authors.affiliation: Groupe de Recherche sur le Paludisme, Institut Pasteur de Madagascar, BP 1274, Antananarivo (101), Madagascar. milijaon@pasteur.mg
authors.forename: Milijaona
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Randrianarivelojosia
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Fidock
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Belmonte
authors.forename: Stephanie G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Valderramos
authors.forename: Odile
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Mercereau-Puijalon
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ariey
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002738:Chloroquine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003062:Codon / Q000235:genetics; D004351:Drug Resistance / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008270:Madagascar / Q000453:epidemiology; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000469:parasitology; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000235:genetics*; D017354:Point Mutation / Q000235:genetics*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000469:parasitology; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials; D003062:Codon; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; C416369:PfCRT protein, Plasmodium falciparum; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D002738:Chloroquine