In vitro susceptibility of Plasmodium falciparum isolates from gabon to chloroquine and cycloguanil.

The in vitro susceptibility of 91 Plasmodium falciparum isolates obtained f rom malaria-infected children living near Libreville (Gabon) was evaluated against chloroquine and cycloguanil (biologically active metabolite of prog uanil), using an isotopic micro-drug susceptibility test In vitro resistanc e to chloroquine and cycloguanil was observed in 83% (35/42) and in 38% (30 /78) of the patients, respectively Our data showed that 41% (16/39) of Gabo nese field isolates were resistant both to chloroquine and cycloguanil. The se findings are of great importance because they might indicate imminent ch loroquine-proguanil failure, and there are not many affordable antimalarial drugs to replace chloroquine-proguanil combination.