RODENT MALARIA PROPHYLAXIS BY TRANSDERMAL DELIVERY OF PRIMAQUINE

The efficacy of a new transdermal delivery system of primaquine in ord er to obtain causal prophylaxis against sporozoite-induced Plasmodium yoelii infection was evaluated. A single administration of a 1.0 cm(2) transdermal delivery system containing 5.0 mg of primaquine was able to protect 100% of treated mice. This result suggests that the transde rmal route may be a Very interesting approach for malaria prophylaxis and should encourage further studies in order to determine the absolut e bioavailability of the drug as well as its dose-effect relationship. (C) 1998 Australian Society for Parasitology. Published by Elsevier S cience Ltd.