Researchers from Mahidol University in Bangkok have observed an
increase in the rate of artemisinin-resistant Plasmodium
falciparum malaria along the ThailandMyanmar border within the
past 8 years, and they suggest these rates could potentially
reach the rates reported in Cambodia within 2 to 6 years.
Artemisinin combination treatments are the recommended first-
line therapy for falciparum malaria, the researchers wrote.
Plasmodium falciparum parasites with reduced in vivo
susceptibility to artemisinin derivatives have emerged in
western Cambodia. This finding threatens worldwide initiatives
to control and eliminate The study included 3,202 patients from
malaria clinics along the northwestern border of Thailand
between 2001 and 2010. They measured six hourly parasite counts
in patients with uncomplicated hyperparasitaemic falciparum
malaria who had been treated with artemisinin regimens. They
estimated the parasite clearance half-lives and genotyped the
parasites. Slow parasite clearance is an indicator of art