Expansion of the Plasmodium falciparum Kelch 13 R622I mutation in Northwest Ethiopia

Abstract According to the WHO, almost two thirds of the Ethiopian population are at risk of contracting malaria, where infection with Plasmodium falciparum accounts for approximately 60% of cases today. The risk of artemisinin resistance spreading from SE Asia to Africa is a major concern. We conducted a 28-day in vivo efficacy trial of Artemether-Lumefantrine (Co-Artem) for treatment of uncomplicated malaria (n = 97) in the Gondar Region, North West Ethiopia in 2017–2018. Our results confirmed 100% adequate clinical and parasitological response (ACPR) with no parasites observed at day 3 by microscopy. Further analysis of day 0 samples showed the expansion of a kelch13 mutation R622I to 9.5% from 2.4% of isolates reported three years earlier. Closer examination of the R622I mutation in vitro is warranted.