Malaria cure with sulphadoxine/pyrimethamine combination in 12 semi-immune adults from West-Central Africa with high rates of point mutations in Plasmodium falciparum dhfr and dhps genes

Parasitol Res. 2005 Oct;97(4):287-9. doi: 10.1007/s00436-005-1424-5. Epub 2005 Jul 13.

Abstract

We report 12 uncomplicated falciparum-malaria cases from semi-immune people from Central Africa treated with sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine (Fansidar) in a Spanish hospital. We resolved by PCR-RFLP the mutations in dhfr and dhps genes related to resistance to antifolate drugs. The 12 patients presented high frequencies of combined mutations in both genes but they were completely cured after treatment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Africa, Central
  • Africa, Western
  • Animals
  • Antimalarials / therapeutic use*
  • Dihydropteroate Synthase / genetics*
  • Drug Combinations
  • Emigration and Immigration
  • Humans
  • Malaria, Falciparum / drug therapy*
  • Malaria, Falciparum / immunology
  • Malaria, Falciparum / parasitology
  • Plasmodium falciparum / drug effects
  • Plasmodium falciparum / enzymology
  • Plasmodium falciparum / genetics
  • Point Mutation*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length
  • Pyrimethamine / administration & dosage
  • Pyrimethamine / therapeutic use*
  • Spain
  • Sulfadoxine / administration & dosage
  • Sulfadoxine / therapeutic use*
  • Tetrahydrofolate Dehydrogenase / genetics*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antimalarials
  • Drug Combinations
  • fanasil, pyrimethamine drug combination
  • Sulfadoxine
  • Tetrahydrofolate Dehydrogenase
  • Dihydropteroate Synthase
  • Pyrimethamine