Parasite Viability during Treatment of Severe Falciparum Malaria: Differential Effects of Artemether and Quinine

S. Murphy Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kilifi Research Unit, Wellcome Trust Research Laboratories, Department of Pharmacology, University of Liverpool, Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Nuffield Department of Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Kilifi, Kenya

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W. M. Watkins Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kilifi Research Unit, Wellcome Trust Research Laboratories, Department of Pharmacology, University of Liverpool, Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Nuffield Department of Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Kilifi, Kenya

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P. G. Bray Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kilifi Research Unit, Wellcome Trust Research Laboratories, Department of Pharmacology, University of Liverpool, Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Nuffield Department of Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Kilifi, Kenya

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B. Lowe Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kilifi Research Unit, Wellcome Trust Research Laboratories, Department of Pharmacology, University of Liverpool, Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Nuffield Department of Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Kilifi, Kenya

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P. A. Winstanley Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kilifi Research Unit, Wellcome Trust Research Laboratories, Department of Pharmacology, University of Liverpool, Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Nuffield Department of Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Kilifi, Kenya

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N. Peshu Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kilifi Research Unit, Wellcome Trust Research Laboratories, Department of Pharmacology, University of Liverpool, Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Nuffield Department of Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Kilifi, Kenya

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K. Marsh Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kilifi Research Unit, Wellcome Trust Research Laboratories, Department of Pharmacology, University of Liverpool, Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Nuffield Department of Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Kilifi, Kenya

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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.1995.53.303
Volume/Issue:
Volume 53: Issue 3
Page(s):
303–305
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The effect of artemether (AR) and quinine (QN) on parasite viability ex vivo was compared in children being treated for severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Parasitized blood taken at intervals during treatment was cultured in vitro, and parasite development was assessed microscopically. Parasite viability (defined as the proportion of circulating rings developing to early schizonts) was 56.8% in the AR group (n = 7) 6 hr after the start of treatment, compared with 93.3% for QN (n = 6; P = 0.015). Even after 24 hr of QN treatment, parasite viability was not significantly reduced in five patients. These ex vivo findings, which confirm previous observations of the stage-specific effects of these drugs against P. falciparum, suggest that AR may be superior to QN in the treatment of severe malaria.

Author Notes

Copyright:
Copyright © 1995 by The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 1995
Published Online:
Sep 1995
Cover The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Print ISSN:
0002-9637
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