Anaemene , I.A.
The susceptibility of Plasmodium falciparum to Artesunate, Amalar and Chloroquine was evaluated by monitoring for schizont formation. Blood samples were collected from five asymptomatic patients within the age bracket of 18 and 26, who are students of Anambra State University Uli, in the month of July. The number of parasites observed in each sample using microscopic technique and Giemsa stain are 120,132,116,25, and 47 for samples A,B,C,D, and E respectively. All the parasites were still in their trophozoite stage with their characteristic double chromatin dots. The parasite density was estimated to be 6000, 6500, 6000, 1500, and 2500 for samples A, B, C, D, and E respectively. Antimalaria susceptibility testing by schizont maturation inhibition technique revealed the number of schizonts found in the two different dilutions of the three drugs applied. In the first dilution which was 50mg of drug in 0.5ml distilled water, the values were 5, 3, 3, 0, and 1 for samples A, B, C, D, and E respectively for Chloroquine. For Amalar, the values were2, 2, 3, 0, and 0 for samples A, B, C, D, and E respectively. For Artesunate the values were 1, 0, 1, 0, and 0 for samples A, B, C, D, and E respectively. For the control, the values were 10, 8, 10, 2, and 3 for samples A, B, C, D, and E respectively. the second dilution which was 25,mg of drug in 0.5ml of distilled water, a number of 7,6, 4, 1 and 2 schizonts were observed in samples A, B, C, G and E respectively for chloroquine. For Amalar, the numbers of schizonts observed were 5, 5, 4, none and 1 foe samples A, B, C, D and E respectively, and for Aztesunate, the numbers were 1,3, 2, non and none for samples A, B, C, D and E respectively. From the results obtained, it inferred that Plasmodium faciparum is susceptible to Artesunate. Amalar and Chloroquine and that Artesunate is best in the treatment of 1 falciparum, followed by Amalar while Chloroquine is offered just good.
