Recent Advances in Detection of Plasmodium ovale: Implications of Separation into the Two Species Plasmodium ovale wallikeri and Plasmodium ovale curtisi

Abstract

Recent molecular studies indicate that Plasmodium ovale malaria is caused by two closely related species of protozoan parasites, thereby imposing new challenges for detection and species differentiation. This minireview explores the potential value of innovative methods for the molecular diagnosis of malaria with a strong emphasis on the discrimination and genotyping of P. ovale wallikeri and P. ovale curtisi as well as tools for the simultaneous detection of P. ovale sp. An update for the widely used NP-1993 to NP-2005 (SSU rRNA) protocols for all human malaria parasites is discussed.

Sensitivity and Specificity of Nested PCR for Diagnosing Malaria: Cases in Several Areas of Indonesia

“…Whereas nested PCR can detect the presence of the Plasmodium in level 6 parasites/ml of blood when the blood sample uses dried blood drops. This allows the PCR method to detect the presence of malaria parasites in a low level of parasitaemia and can also detect the presence of mixed infections which is often not detected by microscopic examination [6,8,9]. Although PCR has a good sensitivity and specificity, the routine use of nested PCR for the diagnosis of malaria cannot be done because of the complexity of the method, the high cost and it requires trained technicians and experts to conduct nested PCR method.…”

The effectiveness of microscopy: Rapid diagnostic test and molecular assay in diagnosing malaria.

“…Research has shown that the target genes have highly conserved regions and their copy numbers range from 4 to 8. This feature makes these genes suitable for phylogenetic studies and molecular detection of different species of Plasmodium parasites [13]. Molecular technique is a very sensitive method of diagnosis of malaria parasite that can detect very low parasitemia level which the microscopy and the Rapid Diagnostic Tests cannot detect [14].…”

Medical Parasitology Taxonomy Update: January 2012 to December 2015

“…They are described as being indistinguishable by microscopy but may differ clinically in their duration of latency (15). PCR-based methods for the detection of P. ovale may be designed to either detect both strains simultaneously or further differentiate the two strains (16). Readers are directed to an excellent review on the subject by Fuehrer and Noedl (16).…”

“…PCR-based methods for the detection of P. ovale may be designed to either detect both strains simultaneously or further differentiate the two strains (16). Readers are directed to an excellent review on the subject by Fuehrer and Noedl (16). However, until further information on the differences in clinical presentation and management of the two strains is elucidated, clinical laboratories should continue to report P. ovale to the species level unless further differentiation based on molecular methods has been performed to identify the individual strains.…”