Populações de Plasmodium falciparum resistentes a antimaláricos em regiões endêmicas à malária na América do Sul: uma revisão sistemática

Abstract

In the Americas, two species of protozoa of the genus Plasmodium are considered capable of frequently infecting humans: Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum. The use of antimalarials to control malaria is an essential alternative in the treatment and control of the disease. However, the parasite's resistance to the drug is undoubtedly the main difficulty faced in endemic regions. Thus, molecular characterizations of resistant populations and monitoring are essential strategies to assess the history and spread of resistance. The study aimed to conduct a systematic review searching for and analyzing studies that contemplated the resistance framework of P. falciparum in malaria-endemic regions in South America. To carry out this work, we searched for journals indexed in the CAPES periodicals portal databases, between the years 2007 to 2018, using previously selected descriptors. A total of 792 articles were found. After analysis following the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 456 titles and abstracts were evaluated and 437 articles were discarded. Thus, 19 articles that dealt with cases of resistant populations of P. falciparum carried out in South America met the inclusion criteria. The small number of articles published and selected in this research does not cover the situation of P. falciparum resistance in the regions of South America, which is regrettable, since the American continent is part of the endemic zone for malaria where large numbers of reported cases of transmission are concentrated.