Study reveals growing signs of malaria drug resistance in Ethiopia
A recent study published in Nature Microbiology has identified genetic changes in malaria parasites that may reduce the effectiveness of key antimalarial medicines in Ethiopia. Researchers from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and partners analyzed 605 Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasite samples collected from 15 districts across Ethiopia between 2019 and 2023.
The study found widespread evidence of malaria parasites carrying genetic variants linked to resistance to multiple antimalarial drugs, including artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs), which are currently the recommended first-line treatment for P. falciparum malaria across most of Africa. While ACTs remain effective in Ethiopia, the researchers identified increasing numbers of parasites with genetic markers associated with partial resistance to artemisinin, the most important component of current malaria treatments.
The study also revealed a link between the two main malaria parasite species found in Ethiopia, P. falciparum and P. vivax. The findings highlight the importance of detecting emerging resistance early to prevent it from affecting patient outcomes and emphasize the need for continued surveillance in areas where both parasite species co-circulate.
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