Relapses in Plasmodium Ovale and Efficacy of Artemether-lumefantrine for Mixed Species and Non-falciparum Malaria
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2016-10-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Malaria is a protozoan infection transmitted by anopheline mosquitoes. The most severe forms
are caused by Plasmodium (P) falciparum and to a much lesser extent by P. vivax.
Although the interest in research on malaria has increased during the last years, yet little
research is conducted on the "neglected" malaria species P. ovale and P. malariae. P. ovale
being first described in 1922, it still remains unclear whether it displays dormant
pre-erythrocytic liver stages, so called hypnozoites, or not. Primaquine, the only marketed
drug with liver stage activity at present, can cause severe hemolysis in glucose-6-phosphate
dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficient persons and methemoglobinemia. Because G6PD is widely spread
in Central Africa, it is important to explore whether additional intake of liver-active
medication is really needed and on this account further research to investigating new
treatment options with liver stage activity should be conducted.
While, due to widespread resistance, treatment recommendations for P. falciparum and mixed
infections have switched from chloroquine to the safer applicable artemisinin-based
combination therapies (ACTs), World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines still suggest
chloroquine as first line treatment for P. malariae and P. ovale mono infections. Further
studies assessing alternative treatment options are largely missing.
Summing up the current situation for both topics shows the need for further research.
Therefore this study aims to assess the evidence and characterize the frequency of relapses
in P. ovale infections with respect to differences between its subspecies as well as the
effectiveness of the ACT artemether-lumefantrine in P. malariae and P. ovale mono- and mixed
infections.
Phase:
N/A
Details
Lead Sponsor:
Albert Schweitzer Hospital
Collaborator:
Medical University of Vienna
Treatments:
Artemether Artemether-lumefantrine combination Artemether, Lumefantrine Drug Combination Artemisinins Lumefantrine