Publication: Gametocyte clearance in uncomplicated and severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria after artesunate-mefloquine treatment in Thailand
Issued Date
2008-12-01
Resource Type
ISSN
17380006
00234001
00234001
Other identifier(s)
2-s2.0-48449095852
Rights
Mahidol University
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Korean Journal of Parasitology. Vol.46, No.2 (2008), 65-70
Suggested Citation
Noppadon Tangpukdee, Srivicha Krudsood, Sriripun Srivilairit, Nanthapom Phophak, Putza Chosawat, Wimon Yanpanich, Shigeyuki Kano, Polrat Wilairatana Gametocyte clearance in uncomplicated and severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria after artesunate-mefloquine treatment in Thailand. Korean Journal of Parasitology. Vol.46, No.2 (2008), 65-70. doi:10.3347/kjp.2008.46.2.65 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/19264
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Authors
Journal Issue
Thesis
Title
Gametocyte clearance in uncomplicated and severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria after artesunate-mefloquine treatment in Thailand
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) is currently promoted as a strategy for treating both uncomplicated and severe falciparum malaria, targeting asexual blood-stage Plasmodium falciparum parasites. However, the effect of ACT on sexual-stage parasites remains controversial. To determine the clearance of sexual-stage P. falciparum parasites from 342 uncomplicated, and 217 severe, adult malaria cases, we reviewed and followed peripheral blood sexualstage parasites for 4 wk after starting ACT. All patients presented with both asexual and sexual stage parasites on admission, and were treated with artesunate-mefloquine as the standard regimen. The results showed that all patients were asymptomatic and negative for asexual forms before discharge from hospital. The percentages of uncomplicated malaria patients positive for gametocytes on days 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28 were 41.5, 13.1, 3.8, 2.0, and 2.0%, while the percentages of gametocyte positive severe malaria patients on days 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28 were 33.6, 8.2, 2.7, 0.9, and 0.9%, respectively. Although all patients were negative for asexual parasites by day 7 after completion of the artesunate-mefloquine course, gametocytemia persisted in some patients. Thus, a gametocytocidal drug, e.g., primaquine, may be useful in combination with an artesunate-mefloquine regimen to clear gametocytes, so blocking transmission more effectively than artesunate alone, in malaria transmission areas.