Abstract:
Background: Plasmodium falciparum is the predominant human malaria species in Mozambique and
a lead cause of mortality among children and pregnant women nationwide. Sulphadoxine/
pyrimethamine (S/P) is used as first line antimalarial treatment as a partner drug in combination with
artesunate.
Methods: A total of 92 P. falciparum-infected blood samples, from children with uncomplicated
malaria attending the Centro de Saude de Bagamoyo in the Province of Maputo-Mozambique, were
screened for S/P resistance-conferring mutations in the pfdhfr and pfdhps genes using a nested
mutation-specific polymerase chain reaction and restriction digestion (PCR-RFLP). The panel of
genetic polymorphisms analysed included the pfdhfr 164L mutation, previously reported to be
absent or rare in Africa.
Results: The frequency of the S/P resistance-associated pfdhfr triple mutants (51I/59R/108N) and
of pfdhfr/pfdhps quintuple mutants (51I/59R/108N + 437G/540E) was 93% and 47%, respectively.
However, no pfdhfr 164L mutants were detected.
Conclusion: The observation that a considerably high percentage of P. falciparum parasites
contained S/P resistance-associated mutations raises concerns about the validity of this drug as
first-choice treatment in Mozambique. On the other hand, no pfdhfr 164L mutant was disclosed,
corroborating the view that that this allele is still rare in Africa.
