RESISTANCE OF PLASMODIUM FALCIPARUM TO CHLOROQUINE IN SOUTH EASTERN IRAN

In vivo and in vitro assessments of the response of P. falciparum to chloroquine using WHO standard kits and techniques were carried out in I ran Shahr, Sistan and Baluchestan province of Iran in 1985. In the in vivo assessment, 24 malaria patients treated with chloroquine (25mg/kg over three days) were followed up for one to four weeks. The mean parasite clearance time was 4.3 days and in two cases, recrudescence occurred on the 20th and 22nd day. In the micro in vitro test, from among 87 samples, the growth of the parasites was satisfactory in 11 cases (12.6%) and the development of the parasites continued in the presence of higher doses of chloroquine (1.14 to 6.4 micromol/l blood). In the macro in vitro test, from 28 successful tests, the growth of the parasites continued in the presence of higher doses of chloroquine (1.25 to 3 micromol/l blood) in eight cases (28.5%). The present study showed resistance of P. falciparum to chloroquine in Iran Shahr area, southeastern Iran, and confirmed the results of the preliminary studies carried out in this area in 1983.