High reinfection rate and treatment failures in children treated with amodiaquine for falciparum malaria in Muheza villages, Northeastern Tanzania

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In May 2003, we studied amodiaquine (AQ) efficacy in children < 5 years of age with uncomplicated falciparum malaria in Magoda and Mpapayu (with insecticide treated nets [ITNs]) and Mgome (without ITNs) in Muheza, Tanzania. The trial involved 28 days of follow-up, and data were adjusted by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) genotyping of msp1 and msp2 genes. Additionally, Pfcrt codon 72-76 polymorphisms were studied by PCR and sequence-specific oligonucleotide probe (SSOP) ELISA. In 54 cases with complete follow-up, a significant difference in late treatment failure (LTF) rates was seen (60.7% in ITN versus 88.5% in non-ITN villages, P = 0.02) before PCR correction. However, after PCR correction, 23 cases (60.5%) were confirmed as reinfections, giving a true LTF rate of 21.4% (6/28) and 34.6% (9/26) in the above settings, respectively. Frequency of Pfcrt CVIET haplotype mutation pretreatment was high (97.0%); the remaining samples were CVMNK. We conclude that AQ alone is no longer effective in the study area.
Original languageEnglish
JournalAmerican Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Volume75
Issue number2
Pages (from-to)188-93
Number of pages5
ISSN0002-9637
Publication statusPublished - 2006

Bibliographical note

Keywords: Amodiaquine; Animals; Antimalarials; Child, Preschool; Cohort Studies; Haplotypes; Hematocrit; Humans; Infant; Malaria, Falciparum; Membrane Proteins; Membrane Transport Proteins; Plasmodium falciparum; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Prevalence; Protozoan Proteins; Recurrence; Tanzania; Treatment Failure

ID: 9829893