First Detection of WHO-validated artemisinin resistance Plasmodium falciparum K13 C469Y mutation in patient from Senegal.
- 1International Research & Training Center in Applied Genomics and Health Surveillance
Abstract
Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies (ACTs) remain the first-line treatment for uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Senegal. The recent emergence of World Health Organization (WHO)-validated Pfkelch13 (K13) mutations associated with artemisinin partial resistance in Africa highlights the need for continuous molecular surveillance. We conducted a nationwidegenomic surveillance study of 3,800 P. falciparum isolates collected from nine malaria-endemic regions of Senegal during 2023-2024. Mutations in the K13 gene were detected using targeted amplicon deep sequencing, and mutations were independently confirmed by allele-specific quantitative PCR (qPCR). Among all isolates analyzed, a single sample collected in Kafountine, Ziguinchor Region, harbored the WHO-validated K13 C469Y mutation at a allele frequency of approximately 15%, indicating a minority mutant parasite population. Allele-specific qPCR confirmed the presence of the mutant allele, and epidemiologic investigation indicated the patient had no recent travel history outside the study area, suggesting local acquisition. No additional WHO-validated K13 resistance mutations were detected, and the patient recovered completely following treatment with artemether-lumefantrine. To our knowledge, this finding represents the first detection of the WHO-validated K13 C469Y mutation in Senegal. Although identified in a single mixed infection and not associated with clinical evidence of ACT failure, the detection of a validated artemisinin resistance mutation prompts deeper investigation and underscores the importance of integrating molecular surveillance into routine malaria control programs to enable early detection of emerging resistance to support evidence-based public health decision-making.
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BibTeX
@misc{gaye2026first,
title = {{First Detection of WHO-validated artemisinin resistance Plasmodium falciparum K13 C469Y mutation in patient from Senegal.}},
author = {A. Gaye and B. Ngom and D. Sow and A. Sene and M. Toure and A. Tine and Y. D. Ndiaye and B. Dieye and K. Diongue and Y. Diedhiou and M. F. Ndiaye and M. Ndiaye and A. M. Mbaye and A. Thiongane and N. K. Standeur and L. Ndiaye and D. Zoumarou and J. F. Gomis and M. C. Seck and I. M. Ndiaye and I. Diallo and E. Doucoure and N. C. Diop and A. K. Dia and A. S. Badiane and M. A. Diallo and A. B. Deme and D. Ndiaye},
howpublished = {medRxiv},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.64898/2026.09.11.26362519},
url = {https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.11.26362519v1},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - First Detection of WHO-validated artemisinin resistance Plasmodium falciparum K13 C469Y mutation in patient from Senegal.
AU - A. Gaye
AU - B. Ngom
AU - D. Sow
AU - A. Sene
AU - M. Toure
AU - A. Tine
AU - Y. D. Ndiaye
AU - B. Dieye
AU - K. Diongue
AU - Y. Diedhiou
AU - M. F. Ndiaye
AU - M. Ndiaye
AU - A. M. Mbaye
AU - A. Thiongane
AU - N. K. Standeur
AU - L. Ndiaye
AU - D. Zoumarou
AU - J. F. Gomis
AU - M. C. Seck
AU - I. M. Ndiaye
AU - I. Diallo
AU - E. Doucoure
AU - N. C. Diop
AU - A. K. Dia
AU - A. S. Badiane
AU - M. A. Diallo
AU - A. B. Deme
AU - D. Ndiaye
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/11
PB - medRxiv
DO - 10.64898/2026.09.11.26362519
UR - https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.11.26362519v1
AB - Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies (ACTs) remain the first-line treatment for uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Senegal. The recent emergence of World Health Organization (WHO)-validated Pfkelch13 (K13) mutations associated with artemisinin partial resistance in Africa highlights the need for continuous molecular surveillance. We conducted a nationwidegenomic surveillance study of 3,800 P. falciparum isolates collected from nine malaria-endemic regions of Senegal during 2023-2024. Mutations in the K13 gene were detected using targeted amplicon deep sequencing, and mutations were independently confirmed by allele-specific quantitative PCR (qPCR). Among all isolates analyzed, a single sample collected in Kafountine, Ziguinchor Region, harbored the WHO-validated K13 C469Y mutation at a allele frequency of approximately 15%, indicating a minority mutant parasite population. Allele-specific qPCR confirmed the presence of the mutant allele, and epidemiologic investigation indicated the patient had no recent travel history outside the study area, suggesting local acquisition. No additional WHO-validated K13 resistance mutations were detected, and the patient recovered completely following treatment with artemether-lumefantrine. To our knowledge, this finding represents the first detection of the WHO-validated K13 C469Y mutation in Senegal. Although identified in a single mixed infection and not associated with clinical evidence of ACT failure, the detection of a validated artemisinin resistance mutation prompts deeper investigation and underscores the importance of integrating molecular surveillance into routine malaria control programs to enable early detection of emerging resistance to support evidence-based public health decision-making.
ER -