Comparative efficacy of sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine and dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine against malaria infection during late-stage pregnancy in mice

The introduction of artemisinin combination therapies (ACTs) against malaria infections opened up a window of possibilities to combat malaria in pregnancy. However, the usefulness of ACTs in all stages of pregnancy must be critically assessed. This study was designed to evaluate dihydroartemisinin-p...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Experimental parasitology 2023-05, Vol.248, p.108500-108500, Article 108500
Main Authors: Akinola, Olugbenga, Ategbero, Elizabeth, Amusan, Abiodun I., Gbotosho, Grace O.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Antimalarials - pharmacology
Antimalarials - therapeutic use
Drug Combinations
Drug Therapy, Combination
Embryo toxicity
Female
Malaria - drug therapy
Malaria - parasitology
Malaria in pregnancy
Malaria, Falciparum
Mice
Plasmodium berghei
Pregnancy
Pyrimethamine - pharmacology
Pyrimethamine - therapeutic use
Recrudescence
Reproductive safety
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Summary:The introduction of artemisinin combination therapies (ACTs) against malaria infections opened up a window of possibilities to combat malaria in pregnancy. However, the usefulness of ACTs in all stages of pregnancy must be critically assessed. This study was designed to evaluate dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DHAP) as a suitable alternative to sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) in the treatment of malaria during third-trimester pregnancy in mice. Experimental animals were inoculated with a parasitic dose of 1x106Plasmodium berghei (ANKA strain) infected erythrocytes and randomly allocated into treatment groups. The animals received standard doses of chloroquine alone (CQ)[10 mg/kg], SP [25 mg/kg] and [1.25 mg/kg] and DHAP [4 mg/kg] and [18 mg/kg] combinations. Maternal and pupil survival, litter sizes, pup weight and still-births were recorded, while the effect of the drug combinations on parasite suppression, recrudescence and parasite clearance time were evaluated. The day 4 chemo-suppression of parasitemia by DHAP in infected animals was comparable to SP, and CQ treatment (P > 0.05). The mean recrudescence time was significantly delayed (P = 0.031) in the DHAP treatment group compared to the CQ treatment group, while, there was no recrudescence in animals treated with SP. The birth rate in the SP group was significantly higher than in the DHAP group (P 
ISSN:0014-4894
1090-2449
DOI:10.1016/j.exppara.2023.108500