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Plasmodium falciparum in Suriname was studied for the presence of drug resistance and genetic variation in blood samples of 86 patients with symptomatic malaria. Drug resistance was predicted by determining point mutations in the chloroquine resistance marker of the P. falciparum chloroquine resistance transporter (pfcrt) gene (codon 76) and the pyrimethamine-sulfadoxine resistance markers in the dihydrofolate reductase (dhfr) gene (codons 16, 51, 59, 108, and 164) and dihydropteroate synthase (dhps) gene (codons 436, 437, 540, 581, and 613). Genetic variability was determined by sequence analysis of the polymorphic segments of the merozoite surface protein 2 (msp-2) and glutamate-rich protein (glurp) genes. Mutations in the pfcrt, dhps, and dhfr genes were found in all samples tested, suggesting that resistance to chloroquine and antifolate drugs is present at a high frequency. A low number of alleles was found for the msp-2 and glurp genes. This indicates limited genetic diversity and, based on geographic data, a genetically homogeneous P. falciparum population in Suriname.
Received November 25, 2004. Accepted for publication July 11, 2005.
Acknowledgments: We thank Leny Nieuwendijk, Jessica Sleeswijk, Rob Koelewijn, Henk Hofwegen, and the staff at the malaria unit of the Bureau of Public Health in Paramaribo for technical assistance.
* Address correspondence to Ron Peek, Section Parasitology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands. E-mail: r.peek{at}amc.uva.nl
Authors addresses: Ron Peek, Sophie Greve, and Ellen Bus, Section Parasitology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Tom van Gool, Section Parasitology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands and Department of Parasitology, Harbour Hospital, Haringvliet 2, 3011 TD Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Daynand Panchoe and Lesley Resida, Bureau of Public Health, Rode Kruislaan 22, Paramaribo, Suriname.
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