Molecular marker of Plasmodium falciparum resistance to chloroquine (Pfcrt) in an area with long history of antimalarial resistance

Background High levels Plasmodium falciparum resistance to Chloroquine (CQ) compelled Tanzania to replace CQ with Suphadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) as first-line antimalarial in 2001 which was however replaced with Artemether Lumefantrine (AL) in 2006. Studies in Malawi have shown sufficient recovery of CQ-sensitivity after its withdrawal warranting re-using CQ in combination with other antimalarials in the future. This paper assessed the level of CQ resistance at molecular level in an area with long history of antimalarial resistance in Northeastern Tanzania.