Prevalence of Pfcrt 76 and Pfmdr1 86 mutations in Plasmodium falciparum  isolates from endemic areas of Thailand by multiplex nested PCR-RFLP

Kanyanan Kritsiriwuthinan; Warunee Ngrenngarmlert

Authors

Kanyanan Kritsiriwuthinan Faculty of Medical Technology, Rangsit University, Patumthani 12000, Thailand
Warunee Ngrenngarmlert Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand

Keywords:

Plasmodium falciparum, Pfmdr1, Pfcrt, prevalence of gene mutations, multiplex-nested PCR-RFLP

Abstract

Plasmodium falciparum drug resistance is a major factor affecting malaria spread and mortality rates of malaria infections. Several studies have shown that chloroquine and other antimalarial drug resistant P. falciparum are associated with a mutation of the Pfcrt (K76T) and Pfmdr 1 (N86Y) genes. The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence of these two gene mutations in Thailand. A total of 84 P. falciparum infected blood samples were collected from eight malaria-endemic provinces. A multiplex-nested PCR-RFLP was used to examine the two gene mutations. The results revealed a very high prevalence (100%) of Pfcrt (K76T) gene mutation and a high prevalence (52.4%) of Pfmdr1 (N86Y) gene mutation. These findings suggest that in Thailand P. falciparum is resistant to chloroquine and that there is an increasing trend of other drug-resistant malaria. The highest and lowest prevalence of these double genes mutations were found in Mae Hong Son province (100%) and Trang province (25%). This study is useful for the epidemiology of P. falciparum drug resistance, and can support the selection of appropriate antimalarial drug treatment and drug resistance surveillance and control programs.

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