Molecular surveillance of the antifolate-resistant mutation I164L in imported african isolates of Plasmodium falciparum in Europe: sentinel data from TropNetEurop

Abstract Background Malaria parasites that carry the DHFR-mutation I164L are not only highly resistant to sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine but also to the new antimalarial drug chlorproguanil-dapsone. The spread of this mutation in Africa would result in a public health disaster since there is a lack of ef...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Malaria Journal
Main Authors: McWhinney Paul, Beran Jiøi, Cunha Saraiva da, Burchard Gerd, Schulze Marco, Laferl Hermann, Matteelli Alberto, Hatz Christoph, Gascon Joaquim, Grobusch Martin P, Mühlberger Nikolai, Peyerl-Hoffmann Gabriele, Jelinek Tomas, Wichmann Ole, Kollaritsch Herwig, Kern Peter, Cuadros Juan, Alifrangis Michael, Gjørup Ida
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: BMC 2003
Subjects:
Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine
RC955-962
Infectious and parasitic diseases
RC109-216
Arctic
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2875-2-17
https://doaj.org/article/4fe3a3df08674f78bf4454f77ed34029
Description
Summary:Abstract Background Malaria parasites that carry the DHFR-mutation I164L are not only highly resistant to sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine but also to the new antimalarial drug chlorproguanil-dapsone. The spread of this mutation in Africa would result in a public health disaster since there is a lack of effective alternatives that are both affordable and safe. Up to now, this mutation has only been described in Asian and Latin-American countries. The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of this mutation in African isolates of Plasmodium falciparum that have been imported into Europe through travellers. Methods TropNetEurop is a network for the surveillance of travel-associated diseases and seems to cover approximately 12% of all malaria cases imported into Europe. Within this network we screened 277 imported African isolates of P. falciparum with the help of PCR- and enzyme-digestion-methods for the antifolate-resistant mutation I164L. Results The I164L mutation was not detected in any of the isolates tested. Discussion Continuous molecular surveillance of mutations in P. falciparum , as it is practised within TropNetEurop, is an essential tool for the understanding and early detection of the spread of antimalarial drug resistance in Africa.

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