The effect of antimalarials on the development of Plasmodium Falciparum trophozoites

ABSTRACT

The effect of different antimalarials (Artemether, Quinine, Chloriquine, Amodiaquine and Sulphadoxine/ Pyrimethamine) on the in vivo development of a sexual parasites during the treatment of falciparum malaria was studied on 29 patients. Maturation of trophozoites from tiny to large ring forms were noted on blood films taken every 6 hourly. The shortest clearance time of tiny forms and fastest parasite clearence rate was detected in the artemether treated group than other antimalials. The parasite clearance time also does not depend on the disappearance time of tiny ring forms, though it does on small and large forms. The drug resistant cases showed longer durationof clearence time of small and large forms in both the sulphadoxine/pyrimethamine and artemether treated groups. The possible early interpretation of resistant cases and application of the methods for the documentation of the action of the antimalarial was discussed.