Acta tropica
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Comparative Study
Blood schizontocidal activity of WR 238605 (Tafenoquine) against Plasmodium cynomolgi and Plasmodium fragile infections in rhesus monkeys.
A new 8-aminoquinoline antimalarial WR 238605 (Tafenoquine), developed initially as a primaquine alternative for prevention of Plasmodium vivax relapses was evaluated for blood schizontocidal activity against two simian malaria infections namely Plasmodium cynomolgi B and Plasmodium fragile in rhesus monkeys. Treatment with WR 238605 at a dose of 3.16 mg(base)/kg/day x 7 days cured established trophozoite induced infections in monkeys with both these parasites. ⋯ Primaquine was only partially curative at 10.0 mg(base)/kg/day x 7 dose regimen against both these infections. The potent blood schizontocidal activity of tafenoquine adds to the armoury of antimalarial drugs.