Blood schizontocidal activity of WR 238605 (Tafenoquine) against Plasmodium cynomolgi and Plasmodium fragile infections in rhesus monkeys.
A new 8-aminoquinoline antimalarial WR 238605 (Tafenoquine), developed initially as a primaquine alternative for prevention of Plasmodium vivax relapses was evaluated for blood schizontocidal activity against two simian malaria infections namely Plasmodium cynomolgi B and Plasmodium fragile in rhesus monkeys. Treatment with WR 238605 at a dose of 3.16 mg(base)/kg/day x 7 days cured established trophozoite induced infections in monkeys with both these parasites. The lower dose of 1.00 mg/kg/day cured 9 out of 12 monkeys infected with P. cynomolgi B and 10 out of 11 monkeys infected with P. fragile. Primaquine was only partially curative at 10.0 mg(base)/kg/day x 7 dose regimen against both these infections. The potent blood schizontocidal activity of tafenoquine adds to the armoury of antimalarial drugs.
Puri
S K
SK
Division of Parasitology, Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow 226001, India. skpuricdri@yahoo.co.in
Dutta
G P
GP
D000634:Aminoquinolines / Q000097:blood* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000097:blood* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D008288:Malaria / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D008992:Monkey Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology*; D018512:Parasitemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary; D016789:Plasmodium cynomolgi; D011319:Primaquine / Q000494:pharmacology
D000634:Aminoquinolines; D000962:Antimalarials; C055852:tafenoquine; D011319:Primaquine