Prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum resistance markers to sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine among pregnant women receiving intermittent preventive treatment for malaria in Uganda. 2015

Anthony K Mbonye, and Josephine Birungi, and Stephanie K Yanow, and Sandra Shokoples, and Samuel Malamba, and Michael Alifrangis, and Pascal Magnussen
Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda, and School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda akmbonye@yahoo.com.

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of mutations in Plasmodium falciparum dihydrofolate reductase (Pfdhfr) and dihydropteroate synthase (Pfdhps) genes among pregnant women using sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) as an intermittent preventive treatment (IPTp). A molecular epidemiological study of P. falciparum parasite resistance markers to SP was conducted from August 2010 to February 2012 in Mukono district in central Uganda. DNA was extracted from 413 P. falciparum-positive samples. Real-time PCR, followed by melting curve analysis, was used to characterize point mutations in the Pfdhfr and Pfdhps genes that are associated with SP resistance. The prevalence of the single-nucleotide mutations in Pfdhfr at codons 51I, 59R, and 108N and in Pfdhps at codons 437G and 540E was high (>98%), reaching 100% fixation after one dose of SP, while the prevalence of 581G was 3.3% at baseline, reaching 12.5% after one dose of SP. At baseline, the prevalence of Pfdhfr and Pfdhps quintuple mutations was 89%, whereas the sextuple mutations (including 581G) were not prevalent (3.9%), reaching 16.7% after one dose of SP. However, the numbers of infections at follow-up visits were small, and hence there was insufficient statistical power to test whether there was a true rise in the prevalence of this allele. The overall high frequency of Pfdhfr and Pfdhps quintuple mutations throughout pregnancy excluded further analyses of possible associations between certain haplotypes and the risk of lower birth weight and anemia. However, women infected with P. falciparum had 1.3-g/dl-lower hemoglobin levels (P = 0.001) and delivered babies with a 400-g-lower birth weight (P = 0.001) compared to nonparasitemic women. Despite this, 44 women who were P. falciparum positive at baseline became negative after one or two doses of SP (i.e., 50.5%), implying that SP-IPTp still has some efficacy. P. falciparum resistance markers to SP are high in this population, whereas P. falciparum infection was associated with poor birth outcomes.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D010963 Plasmodium falciparum A species of protozoa that is the causal agent of falciparum malaria (MALARIA, FALCIPARUM). It is most prevalent in the tropics and subtropics. Plasmodium falciparums,falciparums, Plasmodium
D011247 Pregnancy The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH. Gestation,Pregnancies
D011256 Pregnancy Outcome Results of conception and ensuing pregnancy, including LIVE BIRTH; STILLBIRTH; or SPONTANEOUS ABORTION. The outcome may follow natural or artificial insemination or any of the various ASSISTED REPRODUCTIVE TECHNIQUES, such as EMBRYO TRANSFER or FERTILIZATION IN VITRO. Outcome, Pregnancy,Outcomes, Pregnancy,Pregnancy Outcomes
D011739 Pyrimethamine One of the FOLIC ACID ANTAGONISTS that is used as an antimalarial or with a sulfonamide to treat toxoplasmosis. Chloridin,Daraprim,Malocide,Tindurine
D001724 Birth Weight The mass or quantity of heaviness of an individual at BIRTH. It is expressed by units of pounds or kilograms. Birthweight,Birth Weights,Birthweights,Weight, Birth,Weights, Birth
D004338 Drug Combinations Single preparations containing two or more active agents, for the purpose of their concurrent administration as a fixed dose mixture. Drug Combination,Combination, Drug,Combinations, Drug
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000962 Antimalarials Agents used in the treatment of malaria. They are usually classified on the basis of their action against plasmodia at different stages in their life cycle in the human. (From AMA, Drug Evaluations Annual, 1992, p1585) Anti-Malarial,Antimalarial,Antimalarial Agent,Antimalarial Drug,Anti-Malarials,Antimalarial Agents,Antimalarial Drugs,Agent, Antimalarial,Agents, Antimalarial,Anti Malarial,Anti Malarials,Drug, Antimalarial,Drugs, Antimalarial
D001426 Bacterial Proteins Proteins found in any species of bacterium. Bacterial Gene Products,Bacterial Gene Proteins,Gene Products, Bacterial,Bacterial Gene Product,Bacterial Gene Protein,Bacterial Protein,Gene Product, Bacterial,Gene Protein, Bacterial,Gene Proteins, Bacterial,Protein, Bacterial,Proteins, Bacterial

Related Publications

Anthony K Mbonye, and Josephine Birungi, and Stephanie K Yanow, and Sandra Shokoples, and Samuel Malamba, and Michael Alifrangis, and Pascal Magnussen
March 2023, African health sciences,
Anthony K Mbonye, and Josephine Birungi, and Stephanie K Yanow, and Sandra Shokoples, and Samuel Malamba, and Michael Alifrangis, and Pascal Magnussen
November 2023, The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene,
Anthony K Mbonye, and Josephine Birungi, and Stephanie K Yanow, and Sandra Shokoples, and Samuel Malamba, and Michael Alifrangis, and Pascal Magnussen
July 2011, The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene,
Anthony K Mbonye, and Josephine Birungi, and Stephanie K Yanow, and Sandra Shokoples, and Samuel Malamba, and Michael Alifrangis, and Pascal Magnussen
October 2018, Malaria journal,
Anthony K Mbonye, and Josephine Birungi, and Stephanie K Yanow, and Sandra Shokoples, and Samuel Malamba, and Michael Alifrangis, and Pascal Magnussen
August 2016, Malaria journal,
Anthony K Mbonye, and Josephine Birungi, and Stephanie K Yanow, and Sandra Shokoples, and Samuel Malamba, and Michael Alifrangis, and Pascal Magnussen
March 2010, The Journal of antimicrobial chemotherapy,
Anthony K Mbonye, and Josephine Birungi, and Stephanie K Yanow, and Sandra Shokoples, and Samuel Malamba, and Michael Alifrangis, and Pascal Magnussen
June 2008, The Journal of infectious diseases,
Anthony K Mbonye, and Josephine Birungi, and Stephanie K Yanow, and Sandra Shokoples, and Samuel Malamba, and Michael Alifrangis, and Pascal Magnussen
August 2011, Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America,
Anthony K Mbonye, and Josephine Birungi, and Stephanie K Yanow, and Sandra Shokoples, and Samuel Malamba, and Michael Alifrangis, and Pascal Magnussen
November 2008, The Journal of infectious diseases,
Anthony K Mbonye, and Josephine Birungi, and Stephanie K Yanow, and Sandra Shokoples, and Samuel Malamba, and Michael Alifrangis, and Pascal Magnussen
November 2010, Emerging infectious diseases,
Copied contents to your clipboard!