MALARIA IN MVUMI, CENTRAL TANZANIA AND THE IN-VIVO RESPONSE OF PLASMODIUM-FALCIPARUM TO CHLOROQUINE AND SULFADOXINE PYRIMETHAMINE

A study on the prevalence of malaria and the response of Plasmodium fa lciparum to chloroquine and sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine was conducted i n Mvumi area of central Tanzania, Splenomegaly was observed at a rate of 62% and 36% in children and adults respectively, Crude malaria para site rate was 55.4% in children and 32% in adults, Plasmodium falcipar um accounted for the highest proportion (62.7%) of the malaria parasit es in the area. This malaria parasite was sensitive to standard dosage of either chloroquine or sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine. Sulphadoxine-pyr imethamine cleared the parasites to undetectable levels by day seven o f administration whereas chloroquine cleared parasitaemia in 91% of th e subjects by the seventh day, Despite the virtual absence of adult An opheles mosquitoes during the study period, a larval survey indicated that breeding of Anopheles gambiae s,l, was taking place in nearby irr igation streams, Culex quinquefasciatus was the dominant man-biting mo squito in the area.