scispace - formally typeset
Open AccessJournal ArticleDOI

Comparison of PCR and microscopy for the detection of asymptomatic malaria in a Plasmodium falciparum/vivax endemic area in Thailand

Reads0
Chats0
TLDR
PCR appears to be a useful method for detecting Plasmodium parasites during active malaria surveillance in Thailand, and data indicated that the discrepancy between the two methods resulted from poor performance of microscopy at low parasite densities rather thanpoor performance of PCR.
Abstract
The main objective of this study was to compare the performance of nested PCR with expert microscopy as a means of detecting Plasmodium parasites during active malaria surveillance in western Thailand. The study was performed from May 2000 to April 2002 in the village of Kong Mong Tha, located in western Thailand. Plasmodium vivax (PV) and Plasmodium falciparum (PF) are the predominant parasite species in this village, followed by Plasmodium malariae (PM) and Plasmodium ovale (PO). Each month, fingerprick blood samples were taken from each participating individual and used to prepare thick and thin blood films and for PCR analysis. PCR was sensitive (96%) and specific (98%) for malaria at parasite densities ≥ 500/μl; however, only 18% (47/269) of P. falciparum- and 5% (20/390) of P. vivax-positive films had parasite densities this high. Performance of PCR decreased markedly at parasite densities <500/μl, with sensitivity of only 20% for P. falciparum and 24% for P. vivax at densities <100 parasites/μl. Although PCR performance appeared poor when compared to microscopy, data indicated that the discrepancy between the two methods resulted from poor performance of microscopy at low parasite densities rather than poor performance of PCR. These data are not unusual when the diagnostic method being evaluated is more sensitive than the reference method. PCR appears to be a useful method for detecting Plasmodium parasites during active malaria surveillance in Thailand.

read more

Content maybe subject to copyright    Report

Citations
More filters
DissertationDOI

The epidemiology of malaria, curable sexually transmitted and reproductive tract infections and their coinfection among pregnant women in a catchment area in Nchelenge District, Zambia

EB Chaponda
TL;DR: The prevalence of malaria, curable STIs/RTIs and their coinfection is estimated by estimating the prevalence of ABO and identifying risk factors for ABO to highlight the importance of an integrated approach to control malaria and STI/RTI in pregnancy.
Journal ArticleDOI

Eradication of malaria through genetic engineering: the current situation.

TL;DR: In this article, a review of the mechanisms of anti-malarial drug resistance in the Plasmodium parasite and new genetically engineered tools of research priorities are discussed, and the complexity of the parasite lifecycle demands novel interventions to achieve global eradication, turning laboratory discovered transgenic interventions into functional products entails multiple experimental phases in addition to ethical and safety hurdles.
Journal ArticleDOI

Estimating age-time-dependent malaria force of infection accounting for unobserved heterogeneity.

TL;DR: The resulting FOI varies significantly with age and is estimated to be highest among children aged 5–10 years in areas of high and medium malaria transmission and highest in children aged below 1 year in a low transmission setting, suggesting that next to the individual's age, heterogeneity in malaria FOI may be attributed to household conditions.
Journal Article

Comparison of Malaria Microscopy and Polymerase Chain Reaction for Identification of Plasmodium in Papua, Indonesia

TL;DR: Comparing the identification of Plasmodium species by microscopy and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) found that microscopy is reliable way for routine diagnostic purposes, but it is unreliable to detect mixed malaria infections.
Journal Article

DETECTION OF Anaplasma marginale INFECTION IN A DAIRY CATTLE FARM BY STAINED BLOOD SMEAR EXAMINATION AND NESTED POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION

TL;DR: The study was con­ducted to detect the presence of A. marginale in a dairy cattle farm using stained blood smear examination (SBSE) and nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR).
References
More filters
Journal ArticleDOI

High sensitivity of detection of human malaria parasites by the use of nested polymerase chain reaction

TL;DR: This poster presents a probabilistic procedure to quantify the numbers of Gram-positive and Gram-negative parasites found in the blood of Malaria patients infected with E.coli.
Journal ArticleDOI

Rapid Diagnostic Tests for Malaria Parasites

TL;DR: Most new technology for malaria diagnosis incorporates immunochromatographic capture procedures, with conjugated monoclonal antibodies providing the indicator of infection, and clinical studies allow effective comparisons between different formats.
Journal ArticleDOI

Identification of the four human malaria parasite species in field samples by the polymerase chain reaction and detection of a high prevalence of mixed infections.

TL;DR: Genus- and species-specific sequences are present within the small subunit ribosomal RNA genes of the four human malaria parasites that have proven to be more sensitive and accurate than by routine diagnostic microscopy.
Journal ArticleDOI

Pyrimethamine and Proguanil Resistance-Conferring Mutations in Plasmodium falciparum Dihydrofolate Reductase: Polymerase Chain Reaction Methods for Surveillance in Africa

TL;DR: Methods for collecting fingerstick blood onto filter paper strips that are air-dried, then stored and transported at room temperature and a nested PCR technique that has improved sensitivity and specificity are reported.
Related Papers (5)