Prevalence of pfmdr1, pfcrt, pfdhfr and pfdhps mutations associated with drug resistance, in Luanda, Angola

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Malaria is the infectious disease causing the highest morbidity and mortality in Angola and due to widespread chloroquine (CQ) resistance, the country has recently changed its first-line treatment recommendations for uncomplicated malaria, from CQ to artemisinin combination therapies (ACT) in adults, and sulphadoxine/pyrimethamine (S/P) in pregnant women. Loss of SP sensitivity is, however, progressing rapidly in Africa and, in this study, were investigated a number of molecular markers associated to CQ and S/P.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Blood samples were collected from 245 children with uncomplicated malaria, admitted at the Pediatric Hospital Dr. David Bernardino (HPDB), Angola, and the occurrence of mutations in <it>Plasmodium falciparum </it>was investigated in the <it>pfmdr1 </it>(N86Y) and <it>pfcrt </it>(K76T) genes, associated with CQ resistance, as well as in <it>pfdhfr </it>(C59R) and <it>pfdhps </it>(K540E), conferring SP resistance.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The frequencies of <it>pfmdr1 </it>mutations in codon 86 were 28.6% N, 61.3% Y and 10.1% mixed infections (NY). The frequency of <it>pfcrt </it>mutations in codon 76 were 93.9% K, 5.7% T and 0.4% mixed infections (KT). For <it>pfdhfr </it>the results were in codon 59, 60.6% C, 20.6% R and 18.8% mixed infections (CR). Concerning <it>pfdhps</it>, 6.3% of the isolates were bearers of the mutation 540E and 5.4% mixed infections (K540E).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The results of this epidemiologic study showed high presence of CQ resistance markers while for SP a much lower prevalence was detected for the markers under study.</p

Assessment of Groundwater Risk of Agrochemicals Based on a Modified DRASTIC Method

The area under consideration in our research is the Vercelli plain, an important zone for the cultivation of rice and maize. In addition, the groundwater has been seriously contaminated by agro-activities. The goal of this study was to use GIS technology to develop maps of potential groundwater risk from agricultural activity of the Vercelli plain. The temporal trends of agrochemical concentration in groundwater were plotted. The relationship between groundwater contaminant concentration of agrochemicals and the period amount of precipitation was analyzed. The results showed that most of the shallow aquifer in Vercelli plain is at high to very high risk in terms of potential pollution. Although, there was no obvious upward or downward trend of pesticide concentration in the shallow aquifers, the change of agrochemical concentration in groundwater seems according to the level of the groundwater table. © Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2015