National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS)
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PRINT ISSN : 2319-7692
Online ISSN : 2319-7706 Issues : 12 per year Publisher : Excellent Publishers Email : editorijcmas@gmail.com / submit@ijcmas.com Editor-in-chief: Dr.M.Prakash Index Copernicus ICV 2018: 95.39 NAAS RATING 2020: 5.38 |
The resistance of Plasmodium falciparum to sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) threatens the efficacy of malaria chemoprevention strategies across sub-Saharan Africa. In Chad, data regarding the prevalence of molecular markers of resistance remain scarce. This study aimed to evaluate the polymorphism of the Pfdhfr (codon 108) and Pfdhps (codon 437) genes in P. falciparum isolates collected in Moundou, southern Chad. A cross-sectional study was conducted among patients infected with P. falciparum. Genomic DNA was extracted from dried blood spots (DBS) using the Chelex-100 resin method. Mutations at codons Pfdhfr 108 and Pfdhps 437 were characterized using the nested PCR-FRLP technique. Molecular analysis revealed a high prevalence of mutant alleles. For the Pfdhfr gene, the prevalence of the 108N mutation was 62%, while the S108 wild-type allele persisted in 38% of cases. For the Pfdhps gene, the 437G mutant allele was detected in 70.37% of isolates (comprising 59.26% pure mutants and 11.11% mixed infections), compared to 29.63% for the A437 wild-type allele. Haplotype analysis showed that 40.38% of parasites carried the double mutation (108N/437G), which is the cornerstone of SP resistance. Fully wild-type strains (lacking any mutations) accounted for only 3.85% of isolates. Single mutations were more frequently observed in Pfdhps (34.62%) than in Pfdhfr (21.15%). Antifolate resistance is firmly established in the study area, with a marked reduction in sensitive strains. However, the moderate prevalence of the double mutant and the persistence of wild-type alleles suggest a transitional phase. This indicates potential residual efficacy of SP for chemoprevention, provided that continuous surveillance is maintained.
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