[Presence of pyrimethamine and cycloguanil resistance genotype in West Africa? Evidence of a single mutation 59Arg in the dhfr gene of Plasmodium falciparum].
In 3 different geographical areas of West Africa (Guinea-Bissau, S. Tomé e Princípe and Angola) where chloroquine activity against P. falciparum seems to have decreased, the choice for prevention and/or treatment of malaria is often based on second line drugs such as Fansidar® (pyrimethamine/sulphadoxine). Little is known about the genetic basis of dhfr-ts gene mutations from parasites from these areas. In this study a PCR/RFLP methodology was used to screen 33 field isolates, without intervening steps of in vitro culture, for the pyrimethamine and cycloguanil sensitive/resistant genotype of P. falciparum. Analysis of the digested fragments revealed a prevalence of a Ser108 to Asn108 change in 63.63% of the samples tested.
Centro de Malária e Outras Doenças Tropicais, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Lisboa.
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D000354:Africa, Western; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004351:Drug Resistance; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D009154:Mutation; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics*; D002727:Proguanil / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011739:Pyrimethamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013762:Tetrahydrofolate Dehydrogenase / Q000235:genetics*; D014227:Triazines / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000962:Antimalarials; D014227:Triazines; C026009:cycloguanil; D013762:Tetrahydrofolate Dehydrogenase; D002727:Proguanil; D011739:Pyrimethamine