Chloroquine remains the most commonly antimalaric drug utilized all around the world (340 t in 1988). Its efficiency is linked to its action on the digestive vacuole of plasmodium. Since 1957, the areas of resistance are spreading over of an alarming way, striking all continents. 3,000 cases of malaria are imported in France each year, and 90% of the strains tested in vitro by incorporating tritium hypoxanthine are resistant to chloroquine. The resistant parasites are able to exclude chloroquine from their cytoplasm and produce in great number two genes to synthetize a glycoprotein, probable agent of cellular exclusion of the antimalaric drug. Despite of it, to prescribe chloroquine in prophylaxis remains indispensable, because the risk of severe malaria due to some sensitive strains of Plasmodium falciparum.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Focus on Schistosoma intercalatum].

Area of frequent occurrence of Schistosoma intercalatum is limited to few countries along the Guinea Gulf although the main intervening agents, Bulinus globosus, Bulinus forskalii are dispersed all over Africa. Reservoir of Schistosoma intercalatum is only human and its cycle is difficult to keep up in test animals. Clinical manifestations are, the most often, a simultaneous inflammation of the rectum and sigmoid. Diagnosis is based on the presence of ova with terminal spine in feces or in biopsies of rectal mucosae. Serology, not specific of this species, eases finding of low infestations. Treatment is based on Praziquantel.

Africa, Central↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Epidemiologic aspects of malaria in Gabon].

The authors report the results of 3 sample surveys carried out in Libreville, Ngounié and Haut-Ogooué Provinces to evaluate the main malarial indexes among 0 to 15 years old children in Gabon. These investigations would suggest that malaria is mesoendemic in the three areas. The systematic presumptive antimarial treatment of fever attacks is widely used in Libreville but not so frequent in rural areas.

Adolescent↗