Blood schizontocidal activity of WR 238605 (Tafenoquine) against Plasmodium cynomolgi and Plasmodium fragile infections in rhesus monkeys.

Abstract

A new 8-aminoquinoline antimalarial WR 238605 (Tafenoquine), developed initially as a primaquine alternative for prevention of Plasmodium vivax relapses was evaluated for blood schizontocidal activity against two simian malaria infections namely Plasmodium cynomolgi B and Plasmodium fragile in rhesus monkeys. Treatment with WR 238605 at a dose of 3.16 mg(base)/kg/day x 7 days cured established trophozoite induced infections in monkeys with both these parasites. The lower dose of 1.00 mg/kg/day cured 9 out of 12 monkeys infected with P. cynomolgi B and 10 out of 11 monkeys infected with P. fragile. Primaquine was only partially curative at 10.0 mg(base)/kg/day x 7 dose regimen against both these infections. The potent blood schizontocidal activity of tafenoquine adds to the armoury of antimalarial drugs.

• Authors: S K Puri, G P Dutta
• Journal: Acta tropica (Acta Trop) Vol. 86 Issue 1 Pg. 35-40 (Apr 2003) ISSN: 0001-706X [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 12711101 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Aminoquinolines
• Antimalarials
• tafenoquine
• Primaquine

Topics

• Aminoquinolines (blood, pharmacology)
• Animals
• Antimalarials (blood, pharmacology)
• Female
• Macaca mulatta
• Malaria (blood, drug therapy, parasitology, veterinary)
• Male
• Monkey Diseases (blood, drug therapy, parasitology)
• Parasitemia (drug therapy, parasitology, veterinary)
• Plasmodium cynomolgi
• Primaquine (pharmacology)