Mechanisms of Resistance to Antiparasitic Agents

Abstract

Parasitic diseases rank among the most prevalent and severe diseases worldwide. The danger of depending on drugs as one of the primary tools for control is compounded by the relatively limited number of antiparasitic agents available. The complex biologic interactions between parasites and their hosts (and, at times, their vectors) significantly influence the emergence and expression of drug resistance. The development of resistance to all antimalarial drugs poses the greatest challenge for malaria control and prevention globally. Praziquantel is the only drug currently being used for treatment of schistosomiasis. The widespread use of albendazole, mebendazole, levamisole, and pyrantel in preventive chemotherapy programs to control soil‐transmitted helminth infections has raised concerns regarding the potential for the development of resistance in this group of intestinal nematodes. Public health interventions to correct these factors have not always been successful and would benefit from a better understanding of the drug resistance mechanisms used by parasites.