The researchers from the Regional Medical Research Centre and Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneswar, also used the PCR technique to detect the chloroquine-resistant strains of Plasmodium falciparum. The drug chloroquine was used in treating malaria until the parasite developed resistance to it. Using PCR, the scientists easily detected the chloroquine-resistant marker, K76T on a gene (Pfcrt) of the parasite.

Knowing the status of the parasite is important to ensure the drug regime that has to be followed, said the researchers in the study published in the July issue of Infection, Genetics and Evolution.

The method that is usually followed to determine the parasite