The effect of antimalarials on gametocytes can influence
transmission and the spread of drug resistance. In order to further understand
this relationship, we determined the proportion of gametocyte carriers over time
post-treatment in patients with uncomplicated
Plasmodium falciparum
malaria who were treated with either chloroquine (CQ) or sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine
(SP). The overall proportion of gametocyte carriers was high (85%) and not statistically
significantly different between the CQ and SP treatment groups. However, an increased
risk of carrying gametocytes on day 14 of follow up (1.26 95% CI 1.10-1.45) was
found among patients having therapeutic failure to CQ compared with patients having
an adequate therapeutic response. This finding confirms and extends reports of
increased risk of gametocytaemia among CQ resistant
P. falciparum.
