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<p>Avian malaria, caused by <i>Plasmodium</i> parasites, commonly persists as a chronic infection, yet reliable treatment protocols remain insufficiently evaluated. Assessing treatment efficacy is essential for improving disease management and understanding impacts on host health. We conducted a 2.5-year experimental study to assess the efficacy and safety of atovaquone-proguanil (Malarone®) against <i>Plasmodium relictum</i> (genetic lineage pSGS1) in canaries (<i>Serinus canaria domestica</i>). Seventy-six birds were assigned to four groups: experimentally infected and treated (E1), infected and untreated (E2), uninfected and treated (C1), and uninfected and untreated controls (C2). Following blood inoculation, birds in groups E1 and C1 received four treatment cycles over two months. Parasitemia was monitored by microscopy and PCR for 981&#xa0;days, and survival, body mass, and biochemical parameters were assessed to evaluate long-term effects. We hypothesized that Malarone would clear blood stages, but that recrudescence might occur due to persistent exo-erythrocytic stages.Malarone treatment resulted in rapid elimination of parasitemia in E1 birds, with no relapses detected by microscopy or PCR during follow-up. In contrast, untreated infected birds exhibited persistent low-level and recurrent parasitemias. Survival did not differ among groups, and most physiological parameters remained within reference ranges. Transient increases in total protein and creatine kinase occurred only in untreated infected birds, indicating limited physiological impact of chronic infection and no detectable long-term toxicity of the treatment. Our results demonstrate complete and sustained clearance of <i>P. relictum</i> (pSGS1) following prolonged Malarone treatment. The absence of relapse suggests limited exo-erythrocytic persistence or effective suppression, supporting the safe and effective use of this drug for avian malaria.</p>

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Experimental treatment of avian malaria: atovaquone–proguanil achieves complete clearance of Plasmodium relictum

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年6月16日

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  • Vaidas Palinauskas,
  • Justė Aželytė,
  • Rasa Bernotienė,
  • Rasa Binkienė,
  • Dovilė Bukauskaitė,
  • Carolina Romeiro Fernandes Chagas,
  • Mélanie Duc,
  • Tatjana Iezhova,
  • Mikas Ilgūnas,
  • Elena Platonova,
  • Michael Tobler,
  • Rita Žiegytė,
  • Dennis Hasselquist,
  • Gediminas Valkiūnas

摘要

Avian malaria, caused by Plasmodium parasites, commonly persists as a chronic infection, yet reliable treatment protocols remain insufficiently evaluated. Assessing treatment efficacy is essential for improving disease management and understanding impacts on host health. We conducted a 2.5-year experimental study to assess the efficacy and safety of atovaquone-proguanil (Malarone®) against Plasmodium relictum (genetic lineage pSGS1) in canaries (Serinus canaria domestica). Seventy-six birds were assigned to four groups: experimentally infected and treated (E1), infected and untreated (E2), uninfected and treated (C1), and uninfected and untreated controls (C2). Following blood inoculation, birds in groups E1 and C1 received four treatment cycles over two months. Parasitemia was monitored by microscopy and PCR for 981 days, and survival, body mass, and biochemical parameters were assessed to evaluate long-term effects. We hypothesized that Malarone would clear blood stages, but that recrudescence might occur due to persistent exo-erythrocytic stages.Malarone treatment resulted in rapid elimination of parasitemia in E1 birds, with no relapses detected by microscopy or PCR during follow-up. In contrast, untreated infected birds exhibited persistent low-level and recurrent parasitemias. Survival did not differ among groups, and most physiological parameters remained within reference ranges. Transient increases in total protein and creatine kinase occurred only in untreated infected birds, indicating limited physiological impact of chronic infection and no detectable long-term toxicity of the treatment. Our results demonstrate complete and sustained clearance of P. relictum (pSGS1) following prolonged Malarone treatment. The absence of relapse suggests limited exo-erythrocytic persistence or effective suppression, supporting the safe and effective use of this drug for avian malaria.