This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by McLaughlin, G L Articles by Campbell, G H Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by McLaughlin, G L Articles by Campbell, G H

DNA hybridization for assessment of response of Plasmodium falciparum to chloroquine therapy.

Malaria Branch, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, Georgia 30333.

ABSTRACT

We studied the accuracy of PFR1-AP, a synthetic DNA hybridization probe conjugated to alkaline phosphatase, in monitoring Plasmodium falciparum parasitemia during in vivo drug susceptibility surveys. Duplicate blood samples were collected from six children enrolled in a 14-day in vivo chloroquine study in Rwanda. Results obtained by microscopic examination of Giemsa-stained thick blood smears and by DNA hybridization were compared. Both techniques successfully monitored an infection with chloroquine-susceptible parasites and infections exhibiting various levels of resistance to treatment. For each patient, temporal evolution of the microscopic parasite counts and the DNA hybridization signals were closely parallel, although a wide range of rapidly changing levels of parasitemia occurred through the course of the study. This suggests that DNA hybridization assay using PFR1-AP detects P. falciparum parasites sensitively and specifically and is a valuable tool for drug resistance surveys.