Low response of Colombian strains of Plasmodium vivax to classical antimalarial therapy
Arias, A.E.; Corredor, A.
Tropical Medicine and Parasitology Official Organ of Deutsche Tropenmedizinische Gesellschaft and of Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit 40(1): 21-23
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0177-2392 PMID: 2662351 Document Number: 339335
This report describes 11 cases of Plasmodium vivax infection of Colombian origin that relapsed 49-166 days following treatment with chloroquine or amodiaquine (1.5 g in 3 days) plus primaquine (15 mg daily for 14 days) a regimen widely used to effect radical cure of infections with this parasite. Relapses occurred under conditions that precluded reinfection. The fact that most of the relapses occurred within the last 2 years suggests that P. vivax drug resistance may be developing in Colombia and possibly other regions of South America.AS/R.H. Webber Of 725 cases of P. vivax malaria acquired in Colombia, 11 relapsed (under conditions that precluded reinfection) 49-166 days after treatment with chloroquine or amodiaquine (1.5 g in 3 days) plus primaquine (15 mg/day for 14 days). All 11 patients were men, aged 19 to 72 years, and resident in the Oriental Plains region. These cases occurred over a period of 9 years, but 7 occurred in the past 2 years (1985-1987), suggesting the development of drug resistance in Colombian P. vivax.