In vitro sensitivity of southern African isolates of Plasmodium falciparum to halofantrine.
Twenty southern African isolates of Plasmodium falciparum and a 'control' Gambian strain were tested in vitro for their sensitivity to halofantrine. The concentration required to inhibit 50% of parasite growth, the IC50, ranged from 0.039 to 15.000 nmol/litre, with a mean of 4.619 nmol/litre. These IC50 values were comparable with those obtained in studies carried out in West Africa but were higher than the IC50 of South-East Asian isolates. All 21 isolates examined in the present study had minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of 32 nmol/litre or less, with a median MIC value of 8 nmol/litre. Halofantrine was equally active against chloroquine-sensitive and chloroquine-resistant isolates and was also active against pyrimethamine-resistant strains. Indications are that this drug would be suitable for the treatment of P. falciparum malaria in the southern African region.
Freese
J A
JA
Medical Research Council, Congella, South Africa.
Rossouw
E J
EJ
Gouws
E
E
Sharp
B L
BL
Markus
M B
MB
D000353:Africa, Southern; D000818:Animals; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D010616:Phenanthrenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000187:drug effects*
D000962:Antimalarials; D010616:Phenanthrenes; C023768:halofantrine