Abstract

Malaria parasite (Plasmodium falciparum) is an apicomplexan parasite responsible for lethal cases of malaria which has remained endemic in Nigeria, despite the efforts in mass drugs administration across the country. A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the effect of different malaria treatment on Plasmodium falciparum in Albino rats (Rattus norvegicus). A total of 16 Albino rats were used. A recommended standard method of blood collection from albino rats was used from the lateral saphenous vein in Albino rats and tail vein blood collection method into EDTA Container to the laboratory for hematological parameters before and after treatment (PCV, Hb, RBC and WBC). Microscopy were used for parasite identification from prepared slides i.e. Thin and Thick Blood Smears. Data were subjected to Excel analysis to run for a Paired sample t-Test. Mean for PCV: P-value 0.03< 0.05 we reject the null hypothesis and conclude that there is a significant different in PCV before and after. Mean for Hb: P-value 0.12 > 0.05 we accept the null hypothesis and conclude that there is no significant difference in Hb before and after. Mean for WBC: P-value 0.02 & 0.04 < 0.05 we reject the null hypothesis and conclude that there is a significant difference in WBC before and after. Mean for RBC: P-value 0.01 & 0.02 < 0.05 we reject the null hypothesis and concludes that there is a significant difference in RBC before and after. In term of the efficacy treatment, artesunate injection showed the best among all the other treatment used in the study.

Key words: Plasmodium falciparum, Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, Packed Cell Volume, Hemoglobin, Red blood cell, and White blood cell