<I>In vitro</I> antimalarial susceptibility of <I>Plasmodium falciparum</I> isolates from patients in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria

Abstract

Despite concerted efforts to eradicate malaria, it is still one of the most devastating infectious diseases in the tropics due largely to emergence and widespread P. falciparum drug resistance. This research investigated the in vitro antimalarial susceptibility of Plasmodium falciparum isolates from patients attending Plateau State Specialist Hospital, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria, using the World Health Organization (WHO) standardized in vitro micro-test system. Foremost, the records of reported malaria cases in the hospital were collated for the prevalence of malaria and the frequency of commonly prescribed antimalarial drugs were ascertained. A total of 7936 persons comprising of 3659 males (46.11%) and 4277 females (53.89%), were reportedly infected with malaria parasite from January 2013 to December 2014 in the hospital studied. Blood samples were collected from 131 volunteered patients. Of these samples, 114 (87.02%) had malaria parasites, with 108 (94.74%) samples positive for P. falciparum. Of 88 P. falciparum isolates used for in vitro antimalarial susceptibility test, 33 (37.50%), 27 (30.68%), 22 (25.00%), 22 (25.00%), and 22 (25.00%) were resistant to chloroquine, artemether, amodiaquine, artesunate, and lumefantrine respectively. This study showed the presence of resistant P. falciparum in the study area. Adoption of efficient intervention strategies is warranted in order to curb increase in antimalarial drug resistance.

Keywords: Samples, parasite, resistance, study, positive, prescribed.