STUDIES ON MALARIA PREVALENCE, DRUG TREATMENT REGIMES AND INTENSITY OF CHLOROQUINE-RESISTANT PLASMODIUM FALCIPARUM IN ZARIA, NIGERIA
STUDIES ON MALARIA PREVALENCE, DRUG TREATMENT REGIMES AND INTENSITY OF CHLOROQUINE-RESISTANT PLASMODIUM FALCIPARUM IN ZARIA, NIGERIA
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Date
2010-09
Authors
BECHEMAGBOR, ASHUTAKA
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Abstract
This study was carried out to investigate the malaria prevalence and chloroquine-resistant
Plasmodium falciparum among malaria patients in Zaria. Six hundred and seventy-eight
(678) patients demographic and socio-economic information was obtained using a
structured questionnaire. 5% Giemsa stained thick blood films from the patients were
examined using light microscopy and the samples were also confirmed for positivity using
Rapid Diagnostic Test cassettes. Sucrose-sorbitol density gradient centrifugation was
carried out to obtain asexual stages of the parasite. The eluent were inoculated into a
complete malaria culture medium to increase the parasite density/ml. Isolation of genomic
DNA extraction of Plasmodium falciparum was carried out from the culture media using
the standard phenol/chloroform extraction method. Mutations associated with CQresistance
at codon 76 of pfcrt were analyzed using nested PCR/RFLP. The isolates were
genotyped for pfcrt-76 since the presence of a mutation at this codon indicates that the
parasite carries a resistant gene. Of the 678 samples examined, 159 were Plasmodium slide
positive indicating an overall prevalence of 23.45%. Of the 425 females examined, 120
were malaria positive while 81 out of the 253 males were positive indicating prevalence
rates of 28.35% and 32.01% respectively. Mean percentage prevalence among pregnant
and non-pregnant women was 50% and 26.22% respectively. RDT showed 36 positive
results out 159 microscopic samples (22.64%). DNA extraction from the 36 positive
samples yielded no results. To this end, CQ still elicits its therapeutic effect despite
previous reports on the parasite resistance to the drug. Standard Microscopy, RDT and
PCR/RFLP should be employed in diagnosis, treatment and drug resistance surveillance
respectively to curtail the advent dilemma.
Description
A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE
STUDIES,
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY ZARIA, NIGERIA,
IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS
FOR THE AWARD OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN ZOOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES,
FACULTY OF SCIENCE,
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY ZARIA, NIGERIA.
Keywords
STUDIES,, MALARIA,, PREVALENCE,, DRUG,, TREATMENT,, REGIMES,, INTENSITY,, CHLOROQUINE-RESISTANT,, PLASMODIUM,, FALCIPARUM,, ZARIA,, NIGERIA