Lumefantrine-resistant and Piperaquine-resistant Plasmodium berghei show cross resistance to Primaquine but not to Atovaquone

Abstract

Malaria is the most significant parasitic disease in many countries, with about 41% of the global population affected, mostly in sub-Saharan countries. In the last two decades, mortality and morbidity from the disease have increased, and this is attributed to the rise in resistance to existing antimalarial drugs. Resistance to all known antimalarial drugs, with the exception of the artemisinin derivatives, has developed to various degrees in several countries (Bloland, 2001). However, a few cases of decreased artemisinin sensitivity have been reported in French Guyana and Senegal (Jambou et al., 2005).