Malaria in Southeast Asia Resistant pathogens

Researchers warn against resistant malaria pathogens in Southeast Asia

02/21/2015

In Southeast Asia, a malaria virus is on the rise, which is resistant to the standard drug artemisinin. Currently, Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam are the most affected. Researchers led by Charles Woodrow of the Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU) fear that the pathogen spreads through Myanmar and into India, which could put the global control of malaria in grave danger, as in the journal „The Lancet Infectious Diseases“ to report.

Resistant malaria virus could spread in India
„Myanmar is considered the frontline in the fight against artemisinin resistance as it acts as a gateway to resistance that can spread from there to the rest of the world, "said Woodrow, lead author of the study, in a statement by the WorldWide Antimalarial Resistance Network (WWARN) quoted in the UK. „The more we know about the current situation in the border regions, the better prepared we are to adapt and implement strategies against the spread of further drug resistance. "

The malaria parasite Plasmodium has meanwhile penetrated to the Indian border. Propagation in India would be a major threat to global control of malaria, according to researchers. As part of their investigations, in 2013 and 2014 they had taken blood samples from 940 malaria patients from malaria centers in Myanmar and the border regions in Thailand and Bangladesh. In 39 percent of the patients mutations were identified that are responsible for the resistance. The data suggested that the resistant to artemisinin pathogens continue to spread to the west, the researchers write in the journal.

Another group of researchers succeeded last year in identifying a molecular marker for artemisinin resistance. Only then can concrete statements about the spread of resistance be made. „The identification of the K13 marker for resistance has significantly changed our ability to monitor the spread and development of artemisinin resistance, "said Philippe Guérin, head of WWARN and co-author of the study. „However, this study shows that the rate at which artemisinin resistance spreads is alarming. We need more dynamic international efforts to address this problem in the border regions. "

So far no artemisinin-resistant malaria parasite in Africa
While artemisinin resistance is on the rise in Southeast Asia, the marker has not yet been established in malaria patients in African countries. However, it is believed that the resistant pathogen is widespread in South America. However, proof is missing so far.

Resistance to malaria medication has been reported several times in the past. The World Health Organization (WHO) advises that malaria patients should not only be treated with artemisinin, but should use combination preparations. According to the organization, around 198 million people worldwide contracted malaria in 2013, of which 584,000 died. Around 90 percent of malaria deaths affect people in African countries. The tropical disease is caused by parasites that are transmitted by mosquitoes. (Ag)