ABSTRACT
Background: drug resistant malaria is spreading inexorably to areas with drug sensitive malaria parasites. This study compared the in vitro sensitivities of Plasmodium falciparum fresh parasite isolates; to some standard antimalarial drugs; in Makurdi and Masaka located over 300 km apart; in north central Nigeria. Methods: The in vitro responses of P. falciparum isolates; 43 and 39 in Makurdi and Masaka were evaluated by the standard schizonts growth inhibition assay in children aged 2-14 years. Results: The geometric mean effective concentration-EC50; EC90 and EC99 of quinine between Makurdi and Masaka differed significantly (P 0.05). A similar difference (P 0.05); was observed with the artesunate antimalarial at EC90 and EC99 levels; but not at EC50. No significant difference (P 0.05) was observed in the EC values of amodiaquine between the two locations. 5.13(2/39) of parasites at Masaka were in vitro resistant to amodiaquine with EC50 80 nM. The rest of the isolates were sensitive to the three antimalarial drugs at both locations. Conclusion: The results demonstrated low in vitro resistance of P. falciparum to amodiaquine in the region. Constant monitoring and intervention is needed to curtail the spread of resistance to antimalarials in Nigeria
Subject(s)
Antimalarials , Drug Resistance , Malaria, Falciparum , NigeriaABSTRACT
The findings of a prospective study of 656 near-term pregnant; women, and of the cord and peripheral blood of newborns of positive mothers are reported. 292 (44.51%) of the pregnant women were infected with Plasmodium falciparum. Further microscopic screening of the cord blood of newborns of the 292 positive cases at delivery showed a parasite rate of 10.95%. Transplacental passage of P. falciparum was confirmed by detection of parasitemia in the peripheral blood of 2.82% of newborns within 7 days of birth. Serological investigation of sera of 284 newborns by indirect fluorescent technic (IFA) with P. falciparum IgM specific conjugate indicated that 72 (24.66%) had IgM antibodies of P. falciparum in their blood. The average birthweight of seropositive newborns was 400 g less than seronegative ones. There was no significant difference in the rate of neonatal infection regardless of whether or not the mothers had taken chloroquine prophylaxis.
Subject(s)
Adult , Animals , Antibodies, Protozoan/blood , Female , Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect , Humans , Immunoglobulin M/blood , Infant, Newborn , Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical , Malaria, Falciparum/epidemiology , Male , Nigeria/epidemiology , Plasmodium falciparum/immunology , Pregnancy , Prevalence , Prospective StudiesABSTRACT
The findings of a prospective study of 656 near-term pregnant women, and of the cord and peripheral blood of newborns of positive mothers are reported. 292 (44.51%) of the pregnant women were infected with P. falciparum. Further microscopic screening of the cord blood of newborns of the 292 positive cases at delivery showed a parasite rate of 10.95%. Transplacental passage of P. falciparum was confirmed by detection of parasitemia in the peripheral blood of 2.82% of newborns within 7 days of birth. Serological investigation of sera of 284 newborns by Indirect Fluorescent Technique (IFA) with P. falciparum IgM specific conjugate indicated that 72 (25.35%) had IgM antibodies of P. falciparum in their blood. The average birth weight of seropositive newborns was 400 gm less than seronegative ones. There was no significant difference in the rate of neonatal infection regardless of whether or not the mothers had taken chloroquine prophylaxis.