Army Malaria Institute: its Evolution and Achievements Second Decade : 1975-1985

This article documents the activities of the Malaria Research Unit after its re-location from the University of Sydney to Ingleburn Military Camp in 1974. Some of these activities continued on from the first decade, others were started during the second decade of the Unit's existence. Further rodent malaria studies were continued with sulfa/antifolate combinations and, in 1979, such a combination - dapsone/pyrimethamine (Maloprim) - became the standard drug for protecting military personnel against chloroquine-resistant falciparum malaria. Ongoing laboratory studies with 'Culicinomyces clavisporus' engendered widespread interest in this fungal mosquito pathogen, but further field evaluation revealed storage and other problems which limited the practical value of this larval pathogen for controlling mosquito breeding. Various other entomological investigations were carried out during this decade, including laboratory and field studies with 'Anopheles farauti', the main malaria vector in the southwest Pacific region. Following the acquisition of a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system in 1980, low antimalarial drug concentrations in body fluids could be determined, making it possible to initiate human pharmacokinetic and other studies. In 1982, a small number of Aotus monkeys were procured by the Unit, and subsequent birth rates indicated that a sufficient number of offspring would become available to eventually initiate studies with this experimental host for human malaria. Meanwhile, short-term in vitro tests had been used to determine the chloroquine sensitivity of 'Plasmodium falciparum' infections and, in 1983, longer-term continuous cultivation of 'P. falciparum' was introduced to determine the antimalarial activity of experimental compounds. Malaria diagnostic, field and training support were also provided to Australian and foreign military personnel as well as civilian health facilities in malarial areas.