Prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum parasites harbouring chloroquine-resistant but not artemisinin-resistant alleles in Busia County, Western Kenya
Abstract Background The recent emergence of Plasmodium falciparum parasites harbouring kelch 13 mutations associated with artemisinin partial resistance (ART-R) in sub-Saharan Africa is a major concern. Regular molecular epidemiological surveys are recommended to monitor the level of mutant parasite...
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BMC
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Malaria Journal |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-025-05486-4 |
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| author | Noah Machuki Onchieku Nemrod Gesusu Emmanuelle Caspar Lewis Karani Kelvin Thiong’o Luna Kamau Daniel Kiboi Lucas Thiebaut Laurence Ma Francis Kimani Damaris Matoke-Muhia Didier Ménard |
| author_facet | Noah Machuki Onchieku Nemrod Gesusu Emmanuelle Caspar Lewis Karani Kelvin Thiong’o Luna Kamau Daniel Kiboi Lucas Thiebaut Laurence Ma Francis Kimani Damaris Matoke-Muhia Didier Ménard |
| author_sort | Noah Machuki Onchieku |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The recent emergence of Plasmodium falciparum parasites harbouring kelch 13 mutations associated with artemisinin partial resistance (ART-R) in sub-Saharan Africa is a major concern. Regular molecular epidemiological surveys are recommended to monitor the level of mutant parasites associated with drug resistance. Objective To analyse single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in P. falciparum genes associated with resistance to antimalarial drugs in blood samples collected from malaria patients prior to treatment in Busia County, Western Kenya, using a highly multiplexed deep amplicon sequencing protocol. Methods Parasite DNA was extracted from dried blood spots (DBS) collected from patients attending health facilities along the Kenya-Uganda border, in Busia County. A highly multiplexed deep amplicon sequencing protocol was applied to analyze SNPs in genes associated with antimalarial drugs resistance. Results Out of 118 analysed samples, Pfkelch13 mutations were identified in 6 (5.1%) samples. All the six samples harboured A578S, one of the most frequently detected Pfkelch13 mutations in Africa, which does not confer ART-R. The data also indicated that 11% (13) of the samples had mutant Pfcrt alleles, with 62% harbouring the triple mutant haplotype, CVIET. In contrast, 98% of the samples had dhfr mutations at positions N51I, C59R, or S108N alleles. All the samples carried mutations in the dhps gene with a high prevalence of the single A437G mutation (84%) and a lower frequency of double or triple mutations. Further analysis revealed absence of deletions in the Pfhrp2, with no mutations at Pfmdr1 codons 86 or 1246, both of which are associated with chloroquine resistance. Conclusion These findings show absence of validated Pfkelch13 markers associated with ART-R in Busia County, Western Kenya. Although chloroquine-sensitive (wild-type) parasites are widely circulating, sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine-sensitive parasites remain rare. Continued large scale genomic surveillance studies are essential to detect emerging resistance and guide malaria treatment strategies in the region. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5d4000dcc8e04bd2b2ca2d7a8c1797ad |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1475-2875 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| series | Malaria Journal |
| spelling | doaj-art-5d4000dcc8e04bd2b2ca2d7a8c1797ad2025-08-20T03:45:47ZengBMCMalaria Journal1475-28752025-07-0124111110.1186/s12936-025-05486-4Prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum parasites harbouring chloroquine-resistant but not artemisinin-resistant alleles in Busia County, Western KenyaNoah Machuki Onchieku0Nemrod Gesusu1Emmanuelle Caspar2Lewis Karani3Kelvin Thiong’o4Luna Kamau5Daniel Kiboi6Lucas Thiebaut7Laurence Ma8Francis Kimani9Damaris Matoke-Muhia10Didier Ménard11Sports Science Research Centre, Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)Centre for Biotechnology Research Development (CBRD), Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)Malaria Genetics and Resistance Team (MEGATEAM), UR 3073-Pathogens Host Arthropods Vectors Interactions Unit, Université de StrasbourgCentre for Biotechnology Research Development (CBRD), Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)Centre for Biotechnology Research Development (CBRD), Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)Centre for Biotechnology Research Development (CBRD), Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)Department of Biochemistry, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT)Malaria Genetics and Resistance Team (MEGATEAM), UR 3073-Pathogens Host Arthropods Vectors Interactions Unit, Université de StrasbourgBiomics Platform, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris CiteCentre for Biotechnology Research Development (CBRD), Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)Centre for Biotechnology Research Development (CBRD), Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)Malaria Genetics and Resistance Team (MEGATEAM), UR 3073-Pathogens Host Arthropods Vectors Interactions Unit, Université de StrasbourgAbstract Background The recent emergence of Plasmodium falciparum parasites harbouring kelch 13 mutations associated with artemisinin partial resistance (ART-R) in sub-Saharan Africa is a major concern. Regular molecular epidemiological surveys are recommended to monitor the level of mutant parasites associated with drug resistance. Objective To analyse single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in P. falciparum genes associated with resistance to antimalarial drugs in blood samples collected from malaria patients prior to treatment in Busia County, Western Kenya, using a highly multiplexed deep amplicon sequencing protocol. Methods Parasite DNA was extracted from dried blood spots (DBS) collected from patients attending health facilities along the Kenya-Uganda border, in Busia County. A highly multiplexed deep amplicon sequencing protocol was applied to analyze SNPs in genes associated with antimalarial drugs resistance. Results Out of 118 analysed samples, Pfkelch13 mutations were identified in 6 (5.1%) samples. All the six samples harboured A578S, one of the most frequently detected Pfkelch13 mutations in Africa, which does not confer ART-R. The data also indicated that 11% (13) of the samples had mutant Pfcrt alleles, with 62% harbouring the triple mutant haplotype, CVIET. In contrast, 98% of the samples had dhfr mutations at positions N51I, C59R, or S108N alleles. All the samples carried mutations in the dhps gene with a high prevalence of the single A437G mutation (84%) and a lower frequency of double or triple mutations. Further analysis revealed absence of deletions in the Pfhrp2, with no mutations at Pfmdr1 codons 86 or 1246, both of which are associated with chloroquine resistance. Conclusion These findings show absence of validated Pfkelch13 markers associated with ART-R in Busia County, Western Kenya. Although chloroquine-sensitive (wild-type) parasites are widely circulating, sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine-sensitive parasites remain rare. Continued large scale genomic surveillance studies are essential to detect emerging resistance and guide malaria treatment strategies in the region.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-025-05486-4MalariaPlasmodium falciparumArtemisininChloroquineDrug resistanceMultiplexed deep amplicon sequencing |
| spellingShingle | Noah Machuki Onchieku Nemrod Gesusu Emmanuelle Caspar Lewis Karani Kelvin Thiong’o Luna Kamau Daniel Kiboi Lucas Thiebaut Laurence Ma Francis Kimani Damaris Matoke-Muhia Didier Ménard Prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum parasites harbouring chloroquine-resistant but not artemisinin-resistant alleles in Busia County, Western Kenya Malaria Journal Malaria Plasmodium falciparum Artemisinin Chloroquine Drug resistance Multiplexed deep amplicon sequencing |
| title | Prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum parasites harbouring chloroquine-resistant but not artemisinin-resistant alleles in Busia County, Western Kenya |
| title_full | Prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum parasites harbouring chloroquine-resistant but not artemisinin-resistant alleles in Busia County, Western Kenya |
| title_fullStr | Prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum parasites harbouring chloroquine-resistant but not artemisinin-resistant alleles in Busia County, Western Kenya |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum parasites harbouring chloroquine-resistant but not artemisinin-resistant alleles in Busia County, Western Kenya |
| title_short | Prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum parasites harbouring chloroquine-resistant but not artemisinin-resistant alleles in Busia County, Western Kenya |
| title_sort | prevalence of plasmodium falciparum parasites harbouring chloroquine resistant but not artemisinin resistant alleles in busia county western kenya |
| topic | Malaria Plasmodium falciparum Artemisinin Chloroquine Drug resistance Multiplexed deep amplicon sequencing |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-025-05486-4 |
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