Background

The article "Plasmodium falciparum isolates from Angola show the StctVMNT haplotype in the pfcrt gene" by Gama BE et al[1] provides results that are more worrisome than surprising. This paper, along with a report from Tanzania [2] and a genetic study between two parasites from Africa and South America [3], highlights an urgent need to examine and update treatment guidelines that use combination therapies with 4-aminoquinolines.

Gama et al examined the prevalence of different haplotypes of the Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine (CQ) resistance transporter gene pfcrt, and the multiple drug resistance transporter pfmdr1, from patients in Angola with uncomplicated malaria in 2007. At that time the patients were treated with one of the two artemisinin combination therapies, artemether + lumefantrine or artesunate + amodiaquine (AQ), in accordance with the country's anti-malarial guidelines.

The article reports on the "unexpected" prevalence (> 50%) of a CQ-resistant pfcrt haplotype often found in other countries including Brazil, India, Papua New Guinea, and the Philippines (termed SVMNT, based on codon positions 72-76, Figure 1). Since the characterization of pfcrt as the main genetic determinant of CQ resistance [4] and the removal of CQ from WHO anti-malarial guidelines in 2000, this is the second report of this haplotype in Africa. While Gama et al propose that the commercial relationship between Brazil and Angola allows for the import of the SVMNT haplotype through travellers, the report in 2006 by Alifrangis et al suggested a role of AQ in the selection of the SVMNT haplotype in Tanzania [2]. Interestingly, two other reports from the same countries show contrasting results regarding the pfcrt haplotype on those areas. The first, in Uige, Angola, shows that in 2004 no SVMNT type parasites were detected [5]. The second is a five-year follow up from Tanzania, in which no SVMNT haplotype was found in 2006 and 2007 after removal of AQ [6]. It is not clear whether differential patterns of parasite transmission levels in distinct geographic locations or drug policy changes may account for this "patchy" distribution of SVMNT type parasites. It is also important to note that after the spread of CQ resistance in Brazil and attempts to re-introduce AQ in the late 1980 s that country showed the highest level of AQ resistance reported at the time [7]. The appearance and spread of the SVMNT haplotype in Africa, where AQ has been widely used in the past decade in combination therapies should be more expected than surprising.

Figure 1
figure 1

Current worldwide distribution of PfCRT types (codons 72-76, based on the report of more than a single parasite isolate). Regions with previous history of AQ use coincide with areas where the SVMNT haplotype is prevalent. Figure adapted and updated from Sa et al [3].

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Discussion

The analysis of the in vitro responses to CQ, AQ, and its active metabolite monodesethylamodiaquine (MDAQ) from the P. falciparum genetic cross 7G8xGB4, between a CQ-resistant clone from South America carrying the SVMNT pfcrt haplotype and an African clone carrying the CVIET haplotype, showed that these haplotypes are linked to distinct AQ/MDAQ and CQ responses [3]. Parasites with the SVMNT haplotype are highly resistant to MDAQ, but only moderately resistant to CQ, whereas clones with the CVIET haplotype are moderately resistant to MDAQ and highly resistant to CQ. These data, coupled with observations on the historical use of AQ with early trials in India, Brazil, the Philippines, Laos, Ecuador, Bolivia, Honduras, and areas of South Pacific (mostly matching the geographic distribution of the SVMNT haplotype, Figure 1), suggest that AQ had an early and prominent role in the selection of drug resistant SVMNT type parasites. Furthermore, data on the Tanzania genotypes of P. falciparum infected samples collected in 2003 and 2004, revealed SVMNT haplotype prevalence of 0% and 19%, after the increased use of AQ indicating a strong and quick evolutionary force. This idea is also supported by another recent report from Afghanistan, where the prevalence of P. falciparum SVMNT type has been associated with AQ resistance [8]. The mechanism by which different pfcrt haplotypes interact with AQ, MDAQ, and CQ is yet to be determined, but it may rely on their specific physicochemical characteristics such as amino acid side-chain volume, charge, and hydrophobicity [9].

A greater fitness cost may be associated with parasites carrying the CVIET rather than the SVMNT pfcrt haplotype. While regions in Africa and China where CVIET was the prevalent, if not exclusive haplotype, have been repopulated by CQ-sensitive parasites with the CVMNK haplotype after CQ removal [10–13] regions of South America have remained saturated by the SVMNT haplotype decades after CQ and AQ removal. A reduced fitness cost of the SVMNT haplotype suggests that once this haplotype is present, and CQ and AQ are removed, repopulation of sensitive strains may be very slow to occur.

It is essential to reiterate to the scientific community and government agencies the possibility of this hypothesis: AQ use results in the rapid evolution of 4-aminoquinoline resistant P. falciparum parasites of the pfcrt haplotype SVMNT, which easily adapt with relatively little fitness cost. The monitoring of pfcrt codon positions 72-76 from P. falciparum infected patients in all countries using AQ in their treatment guidelines, regardless of the combination drug is crucial. An estimation of the current distribution of parasites with this haplotype and the consideration of complete removal of AQ from areas of SVMNT prevalence is important because of the resistance levels of SVMNT parasites and the likelihood that they will be as fit as the drug-resistant parasites from South America, where the treatment options of AQ as well as CQ have long been lost.

Conclusions

The continued use of AQ in combination therapies is dangerous in regions where resistant SVMNT parasites occur and threatens the selection of parasites resistant to the partner drug. All efforts should be made to monitor and to halt the selection of SVMNT parasites in Africa and develop new partners in effective combination therapies that will protect the anti-malarial arsenal.