Partial Resistance to Artemisinin in Malaria Parasites in Africa: Evolution and Expansion

Such resistance has emerged and grown in multiple geographic locations within Africa and poses profound challenges to malaria control.

Artemisinins are the cornerstone of combination therapy for malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum. To limit resistance, short-acting artemisinins are combined with a long-acting drug. Partial resistance — manifested as delayed parasite clearance — is present in Southeast Asia (NEJM JW Infect Dis Apr 11 2012 and Lancet Apr 5 2012; NEJM JW Infect Dis Mar 2 2015 and Lancet Infect Dis Feb 19 2015) and has been reported sporadically elsewhere. The primary mediator of resistance is mutation of the P. falciparum kelch protein (PfK13). To better understand the evolution of artemisinin resistance in Africa, investigators performed annual surveillance among patients with uncomplicated malaria at sites across Uganda from 2016 through 2022. They sequ…

Reviewing Author

Mary E. Wilson, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardOneHealthTrust (formerly Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics, and Policy); Global Health Institute, University of Wisconsin

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Editorial BoardsJournal of Travel Medicine

Mary E. Wilson, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardOneHealthTrust (formerly Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics, and Policy); Global Health Institute, University of Wisconsin

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Editorial BoardsJournal of Travel Medicine

Partial Resistance to Artemisinin in Malaria Parasites in Africa: Evolution and Expansion

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Reviewing Author