Molecular Markers of In Vivo Plasmodium vivax Resistance to Amodiaquine Plus Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine: Mutations in pvdhfr

Background. Molecular markers for sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) resistance in Plasmodium vivax have been reported. However, data on the molecular correlates involved in the development of resistance to 4-aminoquinolines and their association with the in vivo treatment response are scarce. Methods. We assessed pvdhfr (F57L/I, S58R, T61M, S117T/N, and I173F/L) and pvmdr1 (Y976F and F1076L) mutations in 94 patients who received amodiaquine (AQ) plus SP in PapuaNewGuinea (PNG).We then investigated the association between parasite genotype and treatment response. Results. The treatment failure (TF) rate reached 13%. Polymorphisms in pvdhfr F57L, S58R, T61M, and S117T/N and in pvmdr1 Y976F were detected in 60%, 67%, 20%, 40%, and 39 % of the samples, respectively. The single mutant pvdhfr 57 showed the strongest association with TF (odds ratio [OR], 9.04; P .01). The combined presence of the quadruple mutant pvdhfr 57L58R61M117T and pvmdr1mutation 976F was the best predictor of TF (OR, 8.56; P .01). The difference in TF rates between sites was reflected in the genetic drug-resistance profile of the respective parasites. Conclusions. The present study identified a new molecular marker in pvmdr1 that is associated with the in vivo response to AQSP. We suggest suitable marker sets with which to monitor P. vivax resistance against AQSP in countries where these drugs are used