Antiplamodial effect of sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine/clindamycin: A study in parasitized mice

Abstract

Triple antimalarial combination therapies may overcome the emergence of antimalarial drug resistance. Sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine (S/P) is an antimalarial drug. Clindamycin (C) has potential antiplasmodial effect. This study assessed whether the antiplasmodial activity of S/P can be augmented by C on Plasmodium berghei-infected mice. Adult Swiss albino mice (25-30g) were grouped and infected with Plasmodium berghei. The mice were orally treated daily with S/P (21.4/10.7 mg/kg), C (10mg/kg) and S/P/C, respectively using curative, prophylactic and suppressive tests. The normal and negative controls were treated daily with normal saline (0.2mL) while the positive control was orally treated with chloroquine (CQ) (10mg/kg). After treatment, blood samples were collected and evaluated for percentage parasitamia and hematological parameters. Mice were observed for mean survival time. In the curative, suppressive and prophylactic tests, S/P/C significantly decreased parasitamia levels when compared to SP or C at p