Sensitivity of Plasmodium falciparum to chloroquine in pregnant women in Zaria, northern Nigeria.
Thirty-five pregnant women with Plasmodium falciparum parasitaemia were treated with chloroquine 25 mg/kg body weight over 3 days. They were followed up in vivo by use of a modified 14-day WHO extended field test. In vitro sensitivity of the parasite isolates to chloroquine was assessed by using the WHO microtest method. All pregnant women were aparasitaemic by day 7 and there was no parasite reappearance throughout the 14-day observation period. The mean parasite clearance time (MPCT) was 3.2 +/- 1.4 days. Eleven parasite isolates obtained from the women were highly susceptible to chloroquine in vitro. The effective drug concentration that gave 99% parasite growth inhibition (EC 99) was 0.36 mumol/l.
Department of Pharmacology & Clinical Pharmacy, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
J N
JN
Okoyeh
L
L
Lege-Oguntoye
J O
JO
Emembolu
U
U
Sarki
A B
AB
Slotboom
D000818:Animals; D002738:Chloroquine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004351:Drug Resistance; D005260:Female; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008288:Malaria / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology; D009549:Nigeria; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010965:Plasmodium malariae / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011247:Pregnancy; D015597:Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology
D002738:Chloroquine