Chloroquine and sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine sensitivity of Plasmodium falciparum parasites in a Brazilian endemic area.
BACKGROUND
The goal of the present study was the characterization of Plasmodium falciparum genes associated to malaria drug resistance (pfcrt, pfdhfr and pfdhps), in samples from two Brazilian localities.


METHODS
Parasites from 65 P. falciparum samples were genotyped using nested-PCR and direct DNA sequencing.


RESULTS
Six resistant sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) pfdhfr genotypes and one haplotype associated to SP sensitivity were detected. For pfcrt gene, SVMNT chloroquine (CQ)-resistant genotype was detected as well as the CVMNK CQ-sensitive haplotype in the same sample from Paragominas, that showed a SP-sensitive genotype.


CONCLUSIONS
This study is the first to document the sensitivity of P. falciparum parasites to CQ and SP in Brazilian field samples. The importance of these findings is discussed.
Gama
Bianca Ervatti
BE
Laboratory of Malaria Research, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. bgama@ioc.fiocruz.br
de Oliveira
Natália K Almeida
NK
Zalis
Mariano G
MG
de Souza
José Maria
JM
Santos
Fátima
F
Daniel-Ribeiro
Cláudio Tadeu
CT
Ferreira-da-Cruz
Maria de Fátima
Mde F
D000818:Animals; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002738:Chloroquine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004351:Drug Resistance / Q000235:genetics*; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D006239:Haplotypes; D006801:Humans; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D021261:Parasitic Sensitivity Tests; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000187:drug effects; D011739:Pyrimethamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013413:Sulfadoxine / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000962:Antimalarials; D004338:Drug Combinations; C001205:fanasil, pyrimethamine drug combination; D013413:Sulfadoxine; D002738:Chloroquine; D011739:Pyrimethamine