Changing Pattern of Plasmodium falciparum pfmdr1 Gene Polymorphisms in Southern Rwanda

Plasmodium falciparum multidrug resistance-1 gene (pfmdr1) polymorphisms associate with altered antimalarial susceptibility. Between 2010 and 2018/2019, we observed that the prevalence of the wild-type allele N86 and the wild-type combination NYD increased 10-fold (4% versus 40%) and more than 2-fold (18% versus 44%), respectively. Haplotypes other than NYD or NFD declined by up to >90%. Our molecular data suggest the pfmdrl pattern shifted toward one associated with artemether-lumefantrine resistance.

Automated summary

The study found an association between Plasmodium falciparum multidrug resistance-1 gene (pfmdr1) polymorphisms and altered antimalarial susceptibility, with a significant increase in the prevalence of the wild-type allele N86 and the wild-type combination NYD in recent years. The molecular data suggests a pattern shift in the pfmdr1 gene associated with artemether-lumefantrine resistance.