Molecular epidemiology of malaria in Cameroon. XV. Experimental studies on serum substitutes and supplements and alternative culture media for in vitro drug sensitivity assays using fresh isolates of Plasmodium falciparum

In vitro drug sensitivity assay is an important tool for various on-going studies aiming to establish the correlation between candidate molecular markers for drug resistance and drug response in laboratory-adapted strains and field isolates of Plasmodium falciparum. A widespread use of this technique in the field would require a suitable substitute that can replace human serum. In this study, several alternative sources of serum substitutes and supplements were evaluated for their capacity to sustain parasite growth for a single life cycle and their compatibility with in vitro assays for clinical isolates that have not been adapted to in vitro culture. Albumax, a commercial preparation of lipid-enriched bovine albumin, did not support parasite growth as much as human serum and fetal calf serum in several isolates. Other serum supplements (AmnioMax and Ultroser) supported parasite growth relatively well. The 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50s) of chloroquine and antifolates determined with 0.05% Albumax were generally two or three times higher than with human serum. With 10% fetal calf serum, IC50s for chloroquine and antifolates were approximately two times higher and three times lower than with human serum, respectively. The use of AmnioMax and OptiMAb resulted in a greater than two-fold increase in IC50s and several uninterpretable assays. Despite possible batch-to-batch differences, fetal calf serum may be a suitable substitute for in vitro drug assays while awaiting the results of further studies on other serum substitutes and supplements.     

Molecular epidemiology of malaria in cameroon. XX. Experimental studies on various factors of in vitro drug sensitivity assays using fresh isolates of Plasmodium falciparum

The influence of several factors on parasite growth and 50% inhibitory concentration (IC(50)) for chloroquine was assessed. Most isolates stored at 4 degrees C up to 72 hours grew when they were subsequently cultivated. However, parasite viability sharply decreased from 24 hours, and the mean chloroquine IC(50) decreased significantly (P < 0.05). There was no evidence for selection of pre-culture populations due to storage alone. The time point when (3)H-hypoxanthine was added (0 versus 18 hours) had no effect on the IC(50) during the 42-hour incubation, but was associated with a lower IC(50) when (3)H-hypoxanthine was added after the initial 42-hour incubation during the 72-hour incubation. An increase in 3H-hypoxanthine incorporation and chloroquine IC(50) was observed as the hematocrit was increased from 1.0% to 2.5%. For the same isolates, chloroquine IC(50) values were generally similar when the initial parasitemia was between 0.1% and 0.5% but increased at higher (>0.75%) parasitemias. Based on these results, we recommend immediate cultivation after blood collection, a 42-hour incubation period with the addition of (3)H-hypoxanthine at the beginning of incubation, a 1.5% hematocrit, and an initial parasitemia 0.1-0.5%. Further studies on serum substitutes, gas mixture, and comparison of isotopic and non-isotopic assays are needed to establish a standardized in vitro assay protocol.     

Molecular epidemiology of malaria in Cameroon. XVII. Baseline monitoring of atovaquone-resistant Plasmodium falciparum by in vitro drug assays and cytochrome b gene sequence analysis

Atovaquone is a new broad-spectrum antiprotozoal drug with high in vitro activity against multidrug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum. Its specific action against protozoans is based on the inhibition of the parasite cytochrome bc1 complex of the mitochondrial electron transport system. Protozoans may develop atovaquone resistance by the selection of a mutant cytochrome b gene. With the increasing availability of atovaquone-proguanil combination for prophylaxis and treatment of malarial infections, it is necessary to establish baseline data on atovaquone sensitivity before the drug is introduced massively in an endemic region. For this purpose, the activity of atovaquone was assessed indirectly by in vitro drug sensitivity assays with several serum substitutes and DNA sequencing of the cytochrome b gene. Using the standard in vitro assay procedures with 10% human serum, the geometric mean 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) for atovaquone was calculated to be 1.15 nM (range = 0.460-4.17 nM), while the use of 10% fetal calf serum resulted in lower IC50s (geometric mean = 0.575, range = 0.266-2.20 nM). The use of Albumax, a lipid-enriched bovine albumin, over the same concentration range (0.25-16 nM) showed poor results. None of the 37 isolates with an atovaquone IC50 < 4.17 nM displayed any mutation. Further monitoring of atovaquone-resistant P. falciparum is warranted for the rational use of this new antimalarial drug.     

Molecular epidemiology of malaria in Cameroon. XVI. Longitudinal surveillance of in vitro pyrimethamine resistance in Plasmodium falciparum

Clinical observations have shown that pyrimethamine resistance develops rapidly in endemic countries where antifolate drugs are used massively for the treatment of Plasmodium falciparum infections. To analyze this phenomenon, the in vitro response of clinical isolates to pyrimethamine and the dihydrofolate reductase (dhfr) gene sequence were analyzed in 2000-2001 and compared with the results obtained since 1994 in Yaounde, Cameroon. Of 139 samples obtained in 2000-2001, 10 (7.2%) isolates were of the wild-type, 116 had pure mutant alleles (2 [1.4%] with a single mutation, 11 [7.9%] with double mutations, and 103 [74.1%] with triple mutations), and 13 (9.4%) had mixed alleles. With the exception of a single isolate with triple mutations (50% inhibitory concentration [IC50] = 84.3 nM), all isolates with pure wild-type dhfr alleles (IC50 < 100 nM) and those with pure mutant dhfr alleles (between 1 and 3 point mutations; IC50 > or = 100 nM) were clearly distinguished by in vitro drug sensitivity assays. The results of the two methods are highly correlated, and both methodologic approaches indicate an increasing proportion of pyrimethamine-resistant isolates in Yaounde over the past eight years (42-45% in 1994-1995, 63-67% in 1997-1998, and 88-92% in 2000-2001). At present, clinical isolates carrying triple dhfr mutations predominate in Yaounde. This situation calls for a regular surveillance of the efficacy of antifolate drugs by all available means, including clinical evaluation, in vitro drug sensitivity assays, molecular markers, and pharmacologic studies.     

Molecular epidemiology of malaria in Cameroon. XI. Geographic distribution of Plasmodium falciparum isolates with dihydrofolate reductase gene mutations in southern and central Cameroon

The DNA sequence of the dihydrofolate reductase (dhfr) gene, a molecular marker for pyrimethamine resistance, was determined for 178 field isolates of Plasmodium falciparum collected along the east-west axis in southern Cameroon. The proportion of isolates having the wild-type dhfr allele varied from 48.1% in the east (city of Bertoua) to 11.3-15.7% in central provinces (Yaounde and Eseka) and 0% in the littoral region (port city of Douala). Isolates with a single Asn-108 mutation or double mutations (Ile-51 or Arg-59 and Asn-108) constituted approximately 10% of the samples. Isolates with triple mutations (Ile-51, Arg-59, and Asn-108) were present in an equal proportion (48.1%) as the wild-type isolates in the east (Bertoua), while triple mutations predominated in Yaounde (62.3%), Eseka (62.7%), and Douala (78.9%). The distribution of triple dhfr mutations along the east-west axis in southern Cameroon suggests the presence of a decreasing gradient from the west coastal region to the central region and then to the east towards the interior of the country.     

Molecular epidemiology of drug resistance markers of Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Thailand

To determine differences in the distribution of drug resistance mutations in the Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine resistance transporter (pfcrt) and P. falciparum multi-drug resistance 1 (pfmdr1) genes of P. falciparum isolates in Thailand, a study was conducted using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism to detect mutations in P. falciparum isolates obtained from three areas with different levels of in vivo mefloquine (MQ) resistance. All isolates carried mutant allele T76 of the pfcrt gene and wild-type allele D1246 of the pfmdr1 gene except for one isolate, which showed the wild-type K76 allele. This isolate was obtained from Chanthaburi Province, an area with high MQ resistance. Relatively low rates of the mutant alleles D1042 and Y86 of the pfmdr1 gene were found among Thai isolates of P. falciparum. However, a statistically significant difference in the distribution was noted. Most of the mutant isolates were found among isolates from areas with moderate or low MQ resistance. Only one isolate with mixed mutant and wild-type N1042 and D1042 and two mutants of Y86 were found among the isolates from areas with high MQ resistance. The findings provide limited support for the hypothesis that mutant alleles of pfmdr1 may be associated with increased sensitivity to MQ.     

Molecular epidemiology of malaria in Yaounde, Cameroon. VIII. Multiple Plasmodium falciparum infections in symptomatic patients.

The extent of genetically distinct parasite populations coinfecting individual human hosts (i.e., multiplicity) was studied by polymerase chain reaction amplification of 3 polymorphic genetic markers, circumsporozoite protein and merozoite surface antigens (MSA) 1 and 2, in symptomatic children and adults and analyzed in relation with age and initial parasitemia. Of the total of 177 DNA samples analyzed (of which 115 were paired pre- and posttreatment samples), 101 (57%) were composed of multiclonal infections, with up to 7 distinguishable parasite populations. Among the 3 polymorphic markers, msa-2 yielded the highest proportion of clinical isolates with multiclonal populations. Patients with multiclonal infections before treatment had, on average, 2.9 genetically distinct parasite populations. The extent of multiplicity decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in recrudescent parasites, but not with reinfections, as compared with the pretreatment samples. Neither age (5-60 years) nor initial parasitemia was correlated with multiplicity. Further studies in different epidemiological settings are required to understand the role of multiclonal Plasmodium falciparum infections in influencing malaria transmission.     

Molecular epidemiology of malaria in Cameroon. XVIII. Polymorphisms of the Plasmodium falciparum merozoite surface antigen-2 gene in isolates from symptomatic patients

Merozoite surface antigen-2 (MSA-2) is a polymorphic genetic marker that is highly discriminatory for characterizing Plasmodium falciparum field isolates. Genetic diversity of isolates obtained from symptomatic patients residing in Yaounde, Cameroon was analyzed by an allele-specific polymerase chain reaction and direct sequencing of amplification products. Of 137 isolates, 25 (18%) had only FC27-type alleles, 40 (29%) had only 3D7-type alleles, and 72 (53%) had multiple parasite populations with both alleles. Of 295 fragments, 145 (49.2%) and 150 (50.8%) belonged to FC27 and 3D7 alleles, respectively. There were 23 different MSA-2 alleles (10 FC27-type and 13 3D7-type that yielded 44 different combinations in multiple infections). DNA sequencing showed distinct individual sequences. Sequences belonging to the FC27 allelic family were relatively conserved, with most of the polymorphism arising from differences in the number of repeat units. In contrast, the sequences within the GSA-rich region in 3D7 allelic family were less conserved, but many of the sequences in Cameroonian isolates have been identified in other isolates from geographically distant origins. Our results show an extensive diversity of the central region of MSA-2 in size, allelic family, combinations of these two features in multiple infections, and sequence variations underlying the complex population structure of P. falciparum clinical isolates in Yaounde, Cameroon.     

Molecular epidemiology of malaria in Cameroon. XII. In vitro drug assays and molecular surveillance of chloroquine and proguanil resistance

Chloroquine-proguanil combination is one of the options for chemoprophylaxis. The rapid evolution of drug resistance status requires a constant upgrade of epidemiologic data. Due to various difficulties in conducting prospective clinical studies on the prophylactic efficacy of the drug combination, especially in highly chloroquine-resistant zones, in vitro drug sensitivity assays and specific molecular markers for chloroquine (Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine-resistance transporter, pfcrt) and cycloguanil (a biologically active metabolite of proguanil; dihydrofolate reductase, dhfr) resistance were evaluated as an alternative approach in this study. Of 116 isolates, 62 (53.4%) were doubly resistant in vitro to chloroquine (IC50 > or = 100 nM) and cycloguanil (IC50 > or = 15 nM). Likewise, 62 of 118 isolates (52.5%) carried both the mutant Thr-76 pfcrt allele and at least one dhfr mutant allele (1 with a single Asn-108 allele, 8 with double Arg-59 and Asn-108 mutations, and 53 with triple Ile-51, Arg-59, and Asn-108 mutations). The in vitro drug response corresponded with the presence or absence of key mutation(s) in the pfcrt and dhfr genes. These results suggest the high proportion of P. falciparum isolates in southern Cameroon that may not respond to chloroquine-proguanil combination.     

In vitro activity of dihydroartemisinin against clinical isolates of Plasmodium falciparum in Yaounde, Cameroon.

The in vitro activities of dihydroartemisinin (the biologically active metabolite of artemisinin derivatives), chloroquine, monodesethylamodiaquine (the biologically active metabolite of amodiaquine), quinine, mefloquine, halofantrine, and pyrimethamine were assessed in 65 African isolates of Plasmodium falciparum from Yaounde, Cameroon using an isotopic microtest. The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) values for dihydroartemisinin were within a narrow range from 0.25 to 4.56 nM, with a geometric mean of 1.11 nM (95% confidence interval = 0.96-1.28 nM). Dihydroartemisinin was equally active (P > 0.05) against the chloroquine-sensitive isolates (geometric mean IC50 = 1.25 nM, 95% confidence interval = 0.99-1.57 nM) and the chloroquine-resistant isolates (geometric mean IC50 = 0.979 nM, 95% confidence interval = 0.816-1.18 nM). A significant positive correlation was observed between the responses to dihydroartemisinin and mefloquine (r = 0.662) or halofantrine (r = 0.284), suggesting in vitro cross-resistance. There was no correlation between the responses to dihydroartemisinin and other antimalarial drugs.     

Molecular epidemiology of malaria in Cameroon. XXIV. Trends of in vitro antimalarial drug responses in Yaounde, Cameroon

In vitro response to chloroquine, monodesethylamodiaquine, mefloquine, lumefantrine, and dihydroartemisinin was assessed by the radioisotopic microtest in Yaoundé, Cameroon, during 2000-2004 and compared with our previous data obtained during 1996-1999. Based on the cut-off value of 100 nmol/L, 36.3% of isolates were chloroquine-susceptible (N = 175; geometric mean IC(50), 40.3 nmol/L) and 63.7% were chloroquine-resistant (N = 307; geometric mean IC(50), 211 nmol/L). There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in the mean IC(50)s from 1996 to 2004, but a significant linear trend (P < 0.05) toward an increased proportion of chloroquine-resistant isolates was observed from 1996 (49%) to 2004 (69%). All chloroquine-susceptible isolates and most chloroquine-resistant isolates were susceptible to monodesethylamodiaquine (i.e., IC(50) < 60 nmol/L). Despite the positive correlation between chloroquine and monodesethylamodiaquine (r = 0.739, P < 0.05), the IC(50)s for monodesethylamodiaquine remained stable during 1997-2004, with no increase in the proportion of monodesethylamodiaquine-resistant isolates. Mefloquine, lumefantrine, and dihydroartemisinin were equally active against the chloroquine-susceptible and chloroquine-resistant parasites. The responses to these three drugs were positively correlated, and a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in the mean IC(50)s was observed during the study period compared with our earlier data in 1997-1999, probably because of their inverse relationship with chloroquine response. The in vitro results were in general agreement with the in vivo response to chloroquine and amodiaquine. In vitro drug susceptibility assay is a useful, complementary laboratory tool for determining the trend of response to drugs for which there is still no established molecular marker and may serve as an early warning system for emerging drug resistance.     

Molecular epidemiology of malaria in Cameroon. XXV. In vitro activity of fosmidomycin and its derivatives against fresh clinical isolates of Plasmodium falciparum and sequence analysis of 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate reductoisomerase

The in vitro activities of fosmidomycin derivatives, chloroquine, and pyrimethamine were assessed by the radioisotopic assay in clinical isolates of Plasmodium falciparum. In a series of experiments with RPMI 1640 medium-10% fetal bovine serum, the geometric mean 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC(50)s) (n = 34) for fosmidomycin and FR900098 were 301 nM and 118 nM, respectively. In another series of experiments, the geometric mean IC(50)s (n = 33) for fosmidomycin and TH II46 were 413 nM and 249 nM, respectively. The IC(50)s were 2-3 times lower with RPMI-10% fetal bovine serum than the IC(50)s obtained with RPMI-10% human serum. FR900098 and TH II46 were 2.6 and 1.7 times more potent, respectively, than fosmidomycin. There was no correlation between chloroquine or pyrimethamine and fosmidomycin, which suggested the absence of in vitro cross-resistance. Sequence analysis showed five amino acid substitutions, but their possible relationship with the response to fosmidomycin is not clear. Fosmidomycin derivatives are promising candidates for further development.     

Molecular epidemiology of malaria in Cameroon. XIV. Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine resistance transporter (PFCRT) gene sequences of isolates before and after chloroquine treatment

Laboratory studies have strongly suggested that the gene coding for Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine resistance transporter (PFCRT) may play a determinant role in chloroquine resistance. A clinical study in Mali also found evidence for selection of the key PFCRT amino acid substitution, Lys76Thr, in patients who fail to respond to chloroquine treatment. To test the hypothesis that in vivo selection of mutant PFCRT alleles occurs after chloroquine treatment, PFCRT and merozoite surface antigen 2 (msa-2) polymorphisms were compared between 61 pretreatment and posttreatment paired samples from children with either clinical or parasitologic failure. There were six wild-type PFCRT alleles, 44 mutant alleles, and 11 mixed alleles among pretreatment isolates. All posttreatment parasites had mutant PFCRT alleles. Recrudescence accounted for 42 of 61 posttreatment infections, while 19 posttreatment infections were due to new infection (including all isolates with Lys-76 before treatment and Thr-76 after treatment). Seven pretreatment isolates with mixed PFCRT alleles had only Thr-76 on recrudescence, providing a direct evidence for in vivo selection for mutant PFCRT. Although the presence of mutant PFCRT alleles in pretreatment isolates is not predictive of chloroquine treatment failure, our data support the hypothesis that in vivo selection for recrudescent parasites carrying mutant PFCRT alleles occurs. These results may have important implications for the future surveillance of chloroquine resistance by the use of molecular markers.     

Molecular epidemiology of malaria in Cameroon. XXII. Geographic mapping and distribution of Plasmodium falciparum dihydrofolate reductase (dhfr) mutant alleles

Sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) is still a useful drug to combat chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Cameroon. Because of several disadvantages of the in vivo test and in vitro drug sensitivity assays, molecular assays are an alternative laboratory tool to monitor the evolution of antifolate resistance, especially over the entire country that is characterized by several epidemiologic strata and malaria transmission patterns. In this study, 1,430 blood samples from either symptomatic children or asymptomatic carriers were collected from 14 sites throughout the country between 1999 and 2003 for the analysis of dihydrofolate reductase (dhfr) sequence. Of 1,368 samples (95.7%) that were successfully amplified, 1,180 were analyzed by direct sequencing of the polymerase chain reaction product, and 188 were analyzed by restriction enzymes. The prevalences of the wild-type, single Asn-108 mutation, double Arg-59/Asn-108 mutations, double Ile-51/Asn-108 mutations, triple Ile-51/Arg-59/Asn-108 mutations, and mixed alleles were 20.8%, 2.8%, 5.7%, 0.8%, 62.2%, and 7.6%, respectively. The proportions of triple dhfr mutations were > 60% at all study sites, with the exception of the eastern province (42% triple mutants in Bertoua in 1999) and the northern provinces (11-35% triple mutants in Ngaoundere, Garoua, and Maroua). In these two provinces, the proportion of mutant parasites increased significantly (P < 0.05) over the period of 2-4 years. Furthermore, there was a higher proportion (P < 0.05) of wild-type parasites in the northern provinces, compared with the rest of the country. The geographic mapping of molecular markers offers a novel tool for monitoring the epidemiology of drug-resistant malaria.     

Molecular epidemiology of malaria in Yaounde, Cameroon. VI. Sequence variations in the Plasmodium falciparum dihydrofolate reductase-thymidylate synthase gene and in vitro resistance to pyrimethamine and cycloguanil

Pyrimethamine and cycloguanil, the major human metabolite of proguanil, are inhibitors of dihydrofolate reductase that play a key role in the treatment and prevention of chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum infections in sub-Saharan Africa. Resistance to these antifolate drugs has emerged in some areas of Africa. Earlier molecular studies have demonstrated that point mutations at key positions of the dihydrofolate reductase-thymidylate synthase gene are strongly associated with antifolate resistance. However, whether the same or distinct mutations are involved in the development of resistance to both pyrimethamine and cycloguanil has not been well established in naturally occurring P. falciparum isolates. In this study, the in vitro responses to both antifolate drugs were measured in 42 Cameroonian isolates and compared with the complete sequence of the dihydrofolate reductase domain of the gene (from 34 of 42 isolates) to analyze the genotype that may distinguish between pyrimethamine and cycloguanil resistance. The wild-type profile (n = 11 isolates) was associated with low 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50s) ranging from 0.32 to 21.4 nanamole for pyrimethamine and 0.60-6.40 nM for cycloguanil. Mutant isolates had at least one amino acid substitution, Asn-108. Only three mutant codons were observed among the antifolate-resistant isolates: Ile-51, Arg-59, and Asn-108. The increasing number of point mutations was associated with an increasing level of pyrimethamine IC50 and, to a much lesser extent, cycloguanil IC50. These results support a partial cross-resistance between pyrimethamine and cycloguanil that is based on similar amino acid substitutions in dihydrofolate reductase and suggest that two or three mutations, including at least Asn-108, may be necessary for cycloguanil resistance, whereas a single Asn-108 mutation is sufficient for pyrimethamine resistance.     

Effect of tissue culture media on multiplication of Plasmodium falciparum in vitro.

To date RPMI-1640 has been the best medium for cultivation of Plasmodium falciparum in vitro. In addition to this medium, several alternative media, essentially the ones used in animal and plant tissue culture, were employed for the cultivation of P. falciparum. Only the media rich in glucose content, viz. Nitsch medium and White's medium S-3, supported the parasite multiplication.     

Molecular epidemiology of malaria in Cameroon. XXX. sequence analysis of Plasmodium falciparum ATPase 6, dihydrofolate reductase, and dihydropteroate synthase resistance markers in clinical isolates from children treated with an artesunate-sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine combination

Plasmodium falciparum dihydrofolate reductase (dhfr) and dihydropteroate synthase (dhps) genes are reliable molecular markers for antifolate resistance. The P. falciparum ATPase 6 (pfatp6) gene has been proposed to be a potential marker for artemisinin resistance. In our previous clinical study, we showed that artesunate-sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine is highly effective against uncomplicated malaria in Yaoundé, Cameroon. In the present study, dhfr, dhps, and pfatp6 mutations in P. falciparum isolates obtained from children treated with artesunate-sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine were determined. All 61 isolates had wild-type Pfatp6 263, 623, and 769 alleles, and 11 (18%) had a single E431K substitution. Three additional mutations, E643Q, E432K, and E641Q, were detected. The results did not indicate any warning signal of serious concern (i.e., no parasites were seen with quintuple dhfr-dhps, DHFR Ile164Leu, or pfatp6 mutations), as confirmed by the high clinical efficacy of artesunate-sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine. Further studies are required to identify a molecular marker that reliably predicts artemisinin resistance.     

Madagascan isolates of Plasmodium falciparum showing low sensitivity to artemether in vitro

In Madagascar, although chloroquine (CQ) remains the first-line treatment of choice for malaria, the gradual spread of resistance to this antimalarial drug is of increasing concern. As part of a larger investigation of the effectiveness of the second- and third-line drugs used to treat malaria, the in-vitro susceptibilities of Plasmodium falciparum collected in Madagascar to CQ, mefloquine (MQ) and artemether (ART) were therefore investigated. Median inhibitory concentrations (IC(50)) were determined for isolates collected from residents of two villages in the foothills of the central highlands. The IC(50) for ART ranged from 0.23-17.50 nM [N = 51; geometric mean = 4.02 nM; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.99-5.05 nM], four isolates exhibiting IC(50) (> 12 nM) indicative of resistance to this drug. The artemether IC(50) were found to be correlated with those of CQ (N = 46; Spearman's r = 0.51; P = 0.0002), which varied widely (0.4-254.3 nM; mean = 23.4 nM; CI = 7.1-39.7 nM; N = 46). Five (11%) of the 46 isolates exposed to CQ in vitro were considered resistant to this drug (i.e. to have IC(50) > 100 nM), with IC(50) ranging from 109-245.3 nM (mean = 171.6 nM; CI = 110.4-232.8 nM). However, all the CQ-resistant isolates were considered sensitive to ART and vice versa. All the isolates tested also appeared sensitive to MQ (IC(50) = 2.21-43.1 nM; mean = 10.5 nM; CI = 7.95-13.07 nM; N = 46), the IC(50) for MQ being correlated with those for CQ (N = 46; Spearman's r =0.46; P = 0.001). There was no significant correlation between ART and MQ activities. Although the sample was fairly small, the present results indicate that P. falciparum in Madagascar is generally becoming less sensitive to CQ and ART. The observation of a correlation between the IC(50) for these two drugs perhaps indicates that artemisinin derivatives would be better used in combination with antimalarial drugs other than 4-aminoquinolines.     

Molecular epidemiology of malaria in Yaounde, Cameroon. VII. Analysis of recrudescence and reinfection in patients with uncomplicated falciparum malaria.

In an endemic area where malaria transmission is intense and continuous, reappearance of asexual parasites may be ascribed to either recrudescence or reinfection. To distinguish between recrudescence and reinfection after oral treatment with chloroquine, amodiaquine, pyronaridine, sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine, halofantrine, or artesunate, three polymorphic markers (circumsporozoite protein, merozoite surface antigens 1 and 2) from pre-treatment and post-treatment samples were amplified by the polymerase chain reaction, and the in vitro response to chloroquine was determined for comparison. Of 52 paired samples, 22 (42%) were reinfections. Recrudescence occurred more frequently on or before Day 14 (22 of 30 cases, 73%). Except for one case, all reinfections were observed beyond Day 14. The phenotype determination was not sufficiently precise to distinguish between recrudescence and reinfection. Our results suggest that beyond Day 14 (and until Day 42), recrudescence and reinfection cannot be distinguished at our study site unless molecular techniques are used and that some results derived from the polymerase chain reaction need to be compared with the microscopic examination of thick blood smear to exclude gametocyte carriers without asexual parasites after treatment.     

High level of sensitivity to chloroquine of 72 Plasmodium falciparum isolates from southern Cameroon in January 1985

The sensitivity to chloroquine, quinine and mefloquine of Plasmodium falciparum isolates from 3 areas of southwest Cameroon was evaluated using an in vitro microtest with estimation of parasite growth by 3H-hypoxanthine incorporation. Among 2,429 children examined, P. falciparum was found on thin smears in 124 of them, 76 isolates were submitted to in vitro tests and 72 were successful. In the locations studied, some of which are close to the area of Limbe where in vivo resistance has been reported, all 72 isolates were found fully sensitive to low concentrations of chloroquine (mean EC50 5.9 ng/ml or 18.5 nmol/l of medium). In 47 of these isolates simultaneously tested using WHO microtest predosed plates, the sensitivity was identical. Out of 39 tests performed with quinine, 35 were successful. While most strains responded to low concentrations, some showed a decreased sensitivity to the drug, the EC50 of 4 of them being in the range 230-300 nmol/l. Each of the 17 isolates tested with mefloquine was susceptible to very low concentrations of freshly prepared drug solution. While chloroquine-resistant strains may already exist in Cameroon, the present study suggests that they would be restricted to a limited area and are not widespread. Data also suggest that monitoring of the sensitivity of P. falciparum to quinine might soon be necessary.