Rapid detection of Pfcrt and Pfmdr1 mutations in Plasmodium falciparum isolates by FRET and in vivo response to chloroquine among children from Osogbo, Nigeria.
BACKGROUND
Chloroquine (CQ) has been in use in Africa for a long time. Because of misuse, this drug has now lost its efficacy due to the emergence of resistance strains in most parts of Africa. Recently, it was shown that after chloroquine has been withdrawn from the market, chloroquine-sensitive Plasmodium falciparum re-emerged and chloroquine could again be used successfully as an antimalarial. Surveillance of parasite populations is, therefore, important to decide whether chloroquine could be re-introduced.


METHODS
To estimate the prevalence of the most pivotal polymorphisms, including Pfcrt K76T, Pfmdr1 N86Y and Pfmdr1 Y184F mutations, and their contributions to the outcome of CQ treatment, isolates from Osogbo Western Nigeria were tested using the Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) method on a real-time PCR instrument.


RESULTS
116 children with acute uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria infections were treated with the standard dosage of CQ and followed-up for 28 days. Blood samples were collected on filter paper at enrollment and during follow-up for identification of parasite carrying the chloroquine resistant transporter (pfcrt) and P. falciparum-multi drug resistance (pfmdr1) gene mutations. Parasitological assessment of response to treatment showed that 62% of the patients were cured and 38% failed the CQ treatment. The presence of single mutant pfcrt (T76) alleles (P = 0.003) and in combination with mutant pfmdr1 Y86 (P = 0.028) was significantly associated with in vivo CQR. No other mutation on its own or in combinations was significantly associated with treatment outcome. Mutant pfcrt was more prevalent in both pre- and post-treatment isolates. No association was observed between age or initial level of parasitaemia and chloroquine treatment outcome.


CONCLUSIONS
The result established the usefulness and accuracy of real time PCR in pfcrt and pfmdr1 mutation detection and also give further evidence to the reliability of the pfcrt T76 point mutation as a molecular marker for CQ resistance.
Ojurongbe
Olusola
O
Department of Parasitology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany. stojurongbe@yahoo.com <stojurongbe@yahoo.com>
Ogungbamigbe
Titus O
TO
Fagbenro-Beyioku
Adetayo F
AF
Fendel
Rolf
R
Kremsner
Peter G
PG
Kun
Jürgen F J
JF
D000818:Animals; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002738:Chloroquine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004351:Drug Resistance; D005260:Female; D031541:Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology*; D008297:Male; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D027425:ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family C Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D009549:Nigeria; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D017354:Point Mutation; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000962:Antimalarials; D002738:Chloroquine; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D027425:ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family C Proteins; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; C513498:Mdr1 protein, Plasmodium falciparum; C416369:PfCRT protein, Plasmodium falciparum