Multidrug-Resistant Plasmodium falciparum Parasites in the Central Highlands of Vietnam Jeopardize Malaria Control and Elimination Strategies

Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2021 Mar 18;65(4):e01639-20. doi: 10.1128/AAC.01639-20. Print 2021 Mar 18.

Abstract

Plasmodium falciparum resistance to dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine has spread through the Greater Mekong Subregion to southwestern Vietnam. In 2018 to 2019, we collected 127 P. falciparum isolates from Dak Nong (36), Dak Lak (55), Gia Lai (13), and Kon Tum (23) provinces in Vietnam's Central Highlands and found parasites bearing the Pfkelch13 C580Y mutation and multiple plasmepsin 2/3 genes (mean prevalence, 17.9%; range, 4.3% to 27.8%), conferring resistance to dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine. This information is important for drug policy decisions in Vietnam.

Keywords: Pfcrt; Pfkelch13; Vietnam; dihydroartemisinin; falciparum malaria; piperaquine; plasmepsin 2/3; pyronaridine resistance.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antimalarials* / pharmacology
  • Antimalarials* / therapeutic use
  • Drug Resistance / genetics
  • Malaria* / drug therapy
  • Malaria, Falciparum* / drug therapy
  • Malaria, Falciparum* / epidemiology
  • Malaria, Falciparum* / prevention & control
  • Parasites*
  • Plasmodium falciparum / genetics
  • Protozoan Proteins / therapeutic use
  • Quinolines* / pharmacology
  • Quinolines* / therapeutic use
  • Vietnam / epidemiology

Substances

  • Antimalarials
  • Protozoan Proteins
  • Quinolines