In vivo and in vitro response of Plasmodium falciparum to chloroquine in pregnant women in Kilifi district, Kenya

• Published in: East African medical journal Vol. 69; no. 6; p. 306
• Main Authors: Rukaria, R M, Ojwang, S B, Oyieke, J B, Kigondu, C B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kenya 01.06.1992
• Subjects: Adult; Animals; Chloroquine - pharmacology; Chloroquine - therapeutic use; Drug Resistance; Female; Hospitals, District; Humans; Kenya; Malaria, Falciparum - drug therapy; Malaria, Falciparum - parasitology; Plasmodium falciparum - drug effects; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious - drug therapy; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious - parasitology; Prevalence; Kenya; Drugs; Eastern Africa; Public Health; Malaria > prevention and control; In Vitro; Research Methodology; English Speaking Africa; Clinical Research; Fertility; Fertility Measurements; Population Characteristics; Pregnant Women; Human Volunteers; Population; Research Report; Parasitic Diseases; Demographic Factors; Multiparity; Parity; Health; Africa; Primiparity; Kenya; Diseases; Treatment; Developing Countries; Africa South Of The Sahara; Parasite Control; Population Dynamics
• ISSN: 0012-835X

In a malaria-endemic area of the Coast of Kenya with chloroquine resistant Plasmodium falciparum, we determined the prevalence and density of falciparum infection in gravid women and assessed the in vivo and in vitro parasite response to a regimen of chloroquine 25 mg/kg body weight divided over three days. P. falciparum infections were present in 65 (21.7%) of 300 pregnant women. The proportion of primigravidae who were parasitaemic was 41.8% which was significantly higher than that of the multigravidae (17.1, P less than 0.01). Primigravidae did not show a significantly higher mean parasite density than the multigravidae. The in vivo tests showed that 45.9% of all the P. falciparum infections were resistant to chloroquine predominantly at RI and RII levels with percentages 36.1% and 8.2%, respectively.