Short report: prevalence and chloroquine sensitivity of Plasmodium malariae in Madagascar

We report the results of clinical studies carried out at six sites in Madagascar, between January and October 2006. The aims were (i) to update our knowledge of the burden of Plasmodium malariae infection and (ii) to assess the therapeutic efficacy of chloroquine for uncomplicated quartan malaria. Our findings confirm that P. malariae is the third leading cause of malaria, accounting for 1.1% of all malarial infections. They also demonstrate that chloroquine-currently recommended for the home management of presumed malaria in children under the age of five years and commonly used by adults-remains highly effective in patients with uncomplicated P. malariae infection.