Ex VivoResponses of Plasmodium falciparum Clinical Isolates to Conventional and New Antimalarial Drugs in Niger

Abstract

ABSTRACTLittle is known about resistance ofPlasmodium falciparumto antimalarials in Sahelian countries. Here we investigated the drug susceptibilities of fresh isolates collected in Niger post-deployment of artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs). We found that the parasites remained highly susceptible to new (dihydroartemisinin, lumefantrine, pyronaridine, and piperaquine) and conventional (amodiaquine and chloroquine) antimalarial drugs. The introduction of ACTs in 2005 and their further deployment nationwide have therefore not resulted in a decrease inP. falciparumsusceptibilities to these antimalarials.