The effects of repeated therapeutic administration of artesunate-amodiaquine and artemether-lumefantrine on haematological markers in healthy mice.

Abstract

Abstract Artemisinin Combination Therapy (ACT) is readily available in malaria-endemic nations, leading to repeated usage of the drug by undiagnosed persons. Repeated ACT therapy in non-infected individuals may affect blood cells. In this study, we examined how repeated therapeutic use of artesunate-amodiaquine (A/A) and artemether-lumefantrine (A//L) when not infected could alter haematological parameters. This experiment used 100 male BALB/c mice randomly distributed into 5 groups: non-infected and Plasmodium berghei NK65 infected groups treated with therapeutic dosages of A/L and A/A 1X, 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X and 6X consecutive times and the control group. Blood was collected for haematological analysis one week after 1X, 2X, 3X and 6X exposure periods. The findings show Packed cell Volume (PCV), Haemoglobin (Hb), and Red Blood Cell counts (RBC) were reduced (p>0.05) non-significantly in the non-infected group treated with either A/L or A/A six consecutive times compared to control and Infected group. In addition, white blood cell count (WBC) increased in infected and non-infected mice treated with A/L or A/A 1X, 2X, 3X, and 6X times, with a significant increase in non-infected mice treated with A/L (p < 0.01) and A/A (p < 0.001) for three consecutive times. The increase in WBC was caused predominantly by Lymphocyte rise, but a decrease in neutrophils was observed. These findings indicate that repeated therapeutic use of A/L and A/A without infection could result in a haematological alteration. Therefore, continuous efforts are needed to enlighten the public on the need to repeatedly screen for malaria parasites before every drug usage.