Increase in Kelch 13 Polymorphisms in Plasmodium falciparum, Southern Rwanda

Clara Bergmann; Welmoed van Loon; Felix Habarugira; Costanza Tacoli; Julia C Jäger; Darius Savelsberg; Fabian Nshimiyimana; Elias Rwamugema; Djibril Mbarushimana; Jules Ndoli; Augustin Sendegeya; Claude Bayingana; Frank P Mockenhaupt

doi:10.3201/eid2701.203527

Increase in Kelch 13 Polymorphisms in Plasmodium falciparum, Southern Rwanda

Emerg Infect Dis. 2021 Jan;27(1):294-296. doi: 10.3201/eid2701.203527.

Authors

Clara Bergmann, Welmoed van Loon, Felix Habarugira, Costanza Tacoli, Julia C Jäger, Darius Savelsberg, Fabian Nshimiyimana, Elias Rwamugema, Djibril Mbarushimana, Jules Ndoli, Augustin Sendegeya, Claude Bayingana, Frank P Mockenhaupt

Abstract

Artemisinin resistance in Plasmodium falciparum is associated with nonsynonymous mutations in the Kelch 13 (K13) propeller domain. We found that 12.1% (8/66) of clinical P. falciparum isolates from Huye district, Rwanda, exhibited K13 mutations, including R561H, a validated resistance marker. K13 mutations appear to be increasing in this region.

Keywords: Kelch; Plasmodium falciparum; antimicrobial resistance; artemisinin; malaria; mutation; parasites; polymorphism; vector-borne infections.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Antimalarials* / pharmacology
Antimalarials* / therapeutic use
Drug Resistance / genetics
Humans
Malaria, Falciparum* / drug therapy
Malaria, Falciparum* / epidemiology
Mutation
Plasmodium falciparum / genetics
Protozoan Proteins / genetics
Rwanda / epidemiology

Substances

Antimalarials
Protozoan Proteins