Killing of Plasmodium vivax by Primaquine and Tafenoquine

Abstract

Primaquine administration results in H₂O₂ accumulation in bone marrow, where gametocytes and asexual parasites are therefore killed. This finding, by Camarda et al., supports the theory that the nonperipheral blood origin of recurrent Plasmodium vivax malaria is both hypnozoites (relapse source) and merozoites (recrudescence source), not hypnozoites only.

Keywords: Plasmodium vivax; hypnozoite; malaria; primaquine; relapse; tafenoquine.