STUDY OF THE K13 GENE POLYMORPHISMS IN PLASMODIUM FALCIPARUM IN PESAWARAN, LAMPUNG, INDONESIA

Abstract

Plasmodium falciparum resistance to artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) has led to a high incidence of malaria. One of the factors most allegedly associated to such resistance is polymorphism of the Plasmodium falciparumK13-propeller (PfK13) gene. This study aimed to determine whether polymorphism of PfK13 gene in Pesawaran, the district with the high incidence rate of malaria in Lampung Province, Indonesia has occurred.Patients (n=52) diagnosed with falciparum malaria that are fulfilled inclusion criteria were assigned as research subjects.The DNA was sampled from venous blood using GB-100 isolation kit (Geneaid), gene amplified using PfK13 primers and Pfk13 nested reaction. All patients recieved ACT treatment and malarial clinical symptoms as well as the density of parasites were recorded on day 1, 2, 3, 7,14 and 28. The results showed there was no mutation of PfK13 gene detected and most patients (98.1%) showed a good response to ACT. In conclusion, the polymorphisms of PfK13 gene in Plasmodium falciparum has not occured in Pesawaran district.