Molecular Surveillance for Multidrug-Resistant Plasmodium falciparum, Cambodia

Abstract

We conducted surveillance for multidrug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum in Cambodia during 2004–2006 by assessing molecular changes in pfmdr1. The high prevalence of isolates with multiple pfmdr1 copies found in western Cambodia near the Thai border, where artesunate–mefloquine therapy failures occur, contrasts with isolates from eastern Cambodia, where this combination therapy remains highly effective.

Keywords

• plasmodium falciparum
• antimalarial drugs
• drug resistance
• Cambodia
• genetic markers
• pfmdr1 protein