Lack of artemisinin resistance in Plasmodium falciparum in northwest Benin after 10 years of use of artemisinin-based combination therapy

• Published in: Parasite (Paris) 2016, Vol.23, p.28-28
• Main Authors: Ogouyèmi-Hounto, Aurore, Damien, Georgia, Deme, Awa Bineta, Ndam, Nicaise T., Assohou, Constance, Tchonlin, Didier, Mama, Atika, Hounkpe, Virgile Olivier, Moutouama, Jules Doumitou, Remoué, Franck, Ndiaye, Daouda, Gazard, Dorothée Kinde
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Amplification; Anti-Infective Agents - pharmacology; Anti-Infective Agents - therapeutic use; Antimalarials - therapeutic use; Artemisinin; Artemisinins - pharmacology; Artemisinins - therapeutic use; Benin; Child, Preschool; Children; Diagnostic systems; Disease control; DNA, Protozoan - chemistry; DNA, Protozoan - genetics; DNA, Protozoan - isolation & purification; Drug Combinations; Drug Resistance; Erythrocytes; Ethanolamines - therapeutic use; Fluorenes - therapeutic use; Genotypes; Health care facilities; Humans; Infant; K13 propeller; Life Sciences; Malaria; Malaria, Falciparum - drug therapy; Malaria, Falciparum - parasitology; Microbiology and Parasitology; Motivation; Mutation; Parasites; Parasitology; Plasmodium falciparum; Plasmodium falciparum - drug effects; Plasmodium falciparum - genetics; Polymorphism, Genetic; Population studies; Populations; Rainy season; Resistance; Santé publique et épidémiologie; Sequence Alignment; Vector-borne diseases
• ISSN: 1776-1042; 1252-607X; 1776-1042
• DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2016028

Aim: In Benin, artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) has been recommended as the first-line treatment for uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria since 2004. The emergence in Southeast Asia of parasites that are resistant to artemisinins poses a serious threat to global control of this disease. The presence of artemisinin resistance genotypes in parasite populations in Benin is currently unknown. The present study investigated the prevalence of relevant K13-propeller gene polymorphisms in parasite isolates from the north-western region of Benin. Method: Plasmodium falciparum isolates were collected from children with a confirmed diagnosis of malaria aged 6 months to 5 years in two towns, Cobly and Djougou, in the north-western part of Benin. The study was conducted during the rainy season from July to November 2014 in local health facilities. The K13-propeller gene was amplified in parasite isolates using nested PCR and subsequently sequenced. Results: A total of 108 children were recruited into the study. The efficiency of amplification reactions was 72% (78/108). The propeller domain of the K13 gene was successfully sequenced in 78 P. falciparum isolates; all of them were wild type with no polymorphisms detectable. Conclusion: The absence of mutations in the K13 gene indicates that P. falciparum parasite populations in the study area are still fully susceptible to artemisinins. Contexte : Au Bénin, depuis 2004, les combinaisons thérapeutiques à base d’artémisinine ont été recommandées comme traitement de première intention du paludisme à Plasmodium falciparum non compliqué. L’émergence en Asie du Sud-Est de parasites qui sont résistants à l’artémisinine pose une menace sérieuse pour la lutte mondiale contre cette maladie. La présence de génotypes de résistance à l’artémisinine dans les populations de parasites au Bénin est actuellement inconnue. Cette étude a étudié la prévalence des polymorphismes du gène K13-propeller chez des parasites isolés de la région nord-ouest du Bénin. Méthodes : Les isolats de Plasmodium falciparum ont été recueillis auprès d’enfants ayant un diagnostic confirmé de paludisme, âgés de 6 mois à 5 ans, dans deux villes, Cobly et Djougou, dans la partie nord-ouest du Bénin. L’étude a été menée pendant la saison des pluies de juillet à novembre 2014 dans les établissements de santé locaux. Le gène K13-propeller a été amplifié dans les isolats de parasites par PCR imbriquée, et ensuite séquencé. Résultats : Un total de 108