Comparing the Parasite Clearance Rates of Chloroquine and Doxycycline in Malaria infection
Abstract
Background: The emergence of artemisinin-resistant malaria parasites has generated great concerns. In order to explore other treatment options, the clearance rates of chloroquine (CQ) and doxycycline (DX) on malaria parasitemia were compared.
Methods: Participants were recruited at the central village square on consecutive basis. Thick peripheral capillary blood were obtained using finger pricking technique. Thick blood smears were prepared on laboratory slides using standard technique and visualized under 100X objective microscope per 100 high power fields (hpf). Of the 603 participants examined, 104 (17.2%) aged 10-≥60 years tested positive to malaria parasite and were randomly allotted into treatment Groups A (n=35) and B (n=35). The direct observed treatment method was adopted for the study. Group A was treated with the standard dose of chloroquine (CQ), while Group B was treated with 200mg daily dose of doxycycline (DX) for 7 days. Both groups were re-examined for parasite loads after treatment on day 8. Groups A and B were controlled with 17 participants per group who were treated with standard doses of multivitamin tablets for 7 days and re-evaluated for parasite load on day 8.
Results: The ≥60 age group recorded the highest (4.7mp/100hpf) Mean Parasite Density (MPD) in Groups A and B. The clearance rate of CQ (43.42%) was not significant (p>0.05), while DX recorded a significant (p˂0.05) clearance rate of 100%.
Conclusions: The outcome of this trial highlights the viability of doxycycline as a potential partner drug to ACT in the treatment of malaria.
Methods: Participants were recruited at the central village square on consecutive basis. Thick peripheral capillary blood were obtained using finger pricking technique. Thick blood smears were prepared on laboratory slides using standard technique and visualized under 100X objective microscope per 100 high power fields (hpf). Of the 603 participants examined, 104 (17.2%) aged 10-≥60 years tested positive to malaria parasite and were randomly allotted into treatment Groups A (n=35) and B (n=35). The direct observed treatment method was adopted for the study. Group A was treated with the standard dose of chloroquine (CQ), while Group B was treated with 200mg daily dose of doxycycline (DX) for 7 days. Both groups were re-examined for parasite loads after treatment on day 8. Groups A and B were controlled with 17 participants per group who were treated with standard doses of multivitamin tablets for 7 days and re-evaluated for parasite load on day 8.
Results: The ≥60 age group recorded the highest (4.7mp/100hpf) Mean Parasite Density (MPD) in Groups A and B. The clearance rate of CQ (43.42%) was not significant (p>0.05), while DX recorded a significant (p˂0.05) clearance rate of 100%.
Conclusions: The outcome of this trial highlights the viability of doxycycline as a potential partner drug to ACT in the treatment of malaria.
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