History and current status of Plasmodium falciparum antimalarial drug resistance in Madagascar

Abstract

Malaria remains a major health problem in Madagascar. Over past decades, the burden of malarial disease has fluctuated over time, partly in line with the successes and failures of antimalarial policy. In the 1950s and 1960s, a sharp decline in malaria transmission was observed in the central highlands due to indoor spraying with DDT and to the massive use of chloroquine by the population. Following this, the discontinuation of the ‘nivaquinization’ policy was followed by devastating outbreaks in the central highlands in the 1980s. Currently, the rate of in vitro chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum isolates does not exceed 5%. This figure appears disconnected from the high level of clinical treatment failure (near 40%). pfcrt mutant isolates are found in less than 1% of isolates on the Island. Conversely, pfmdr1 mutant isolates are found in more than 60% of isolates and may be responsible for the bulk of resistance to chloroquine in Madagascar. Other antimalarials remain generally effective in Madagascar. Recent clinical and in vitro data support the complete efficacy of the combination artesunate–amodiaquine in Madagascar. As such, this artemisinin combination therapy should play a central role in the control and possible elimination of P. falciparum malaria in Madagascar.

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the staff of the Ministry of Health of Madagascar. This work was supported by grants from Natixis/Impact Malaria through the ‘Observatoire de la Résistance aux Antipaludiques’ project. Valérie Andriantsoanirina is a graduate PhD student funded by the Institut Pasteur de Madagascar (Bourse ‘Girard’) and the Direction des Affaires Internationales (Institut Pasteur).

Declaration of interest: None declared.