Open AccessRecent advances in the management of Plasmodium knowlesi infection
Author(s) -
M Vadivelan,
Tanmoy Dutta
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
tropical parasitology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.418
H-Index - 11
eISSN - 2229-7758
pISSN - 2229-5070
DOI - 10.4103/2229-5070.129158
Subject(s) - plasmodium knowlesi , malaria , plasmodium falciparum , chloroquine , artemisinin , plasmodium malariae , virology , plasmodium (life cycle) , macaque , biology , parasite hosting , immunology , plasmodium vivax , paleontology , world wide web , computer science
Plasmodium knowlesi (P. knowlesi) has been detected to be the fifth malarial parasite that can cause malaria in human beings. The parasite is known to commonly infect macaque monkeys. The infection is highly prevalent in South-East Asia. It has morphologic similarities to Plasmodium malariae and Plasmodium falciparum. P. knowlesi is known to replicate every 24 h in the human host and hence, causes "quotidian malaria." It causes a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations and sometimes can cause fatal illness. Chloroquine is effective in the treatment of uncomplicated P. knowlesi infection. Severe and complicated P. knowlesi malaria can be managed with artemisinin combination therapy.