Utility of the detection of Plasmodiumparasites for the diagnosis of malaria in endemic areas

Perneger, Thomas; Szeless, Thomas; Rougemont, André

doi:10.1186/1471-2334-6-81

Cited by 9 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…For some precautions are only necessary when several patients occupy a single bed. Some diagnostic or treatment strategies are needed only when, in the absence of better diagnostic tools, it is wise to develop and use decision algorithms based on local epidemiology that, in sophisticated ways, consider the local prevalence of diseases and disease strains (Perneger et al, 2006). Some approaches are needed only when doctors work at district hospitals where no other staff member is a doctor.…”

Section: Locally Relevant Medical Trainingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Physician Brain Drain: Can Nothing Be Done?

Eyal

Hurst

2008

Public Health Ethics

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Section: Locally Relevant Medical Trainingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Physician Brain Drain: Can Nothing Be Done?

Eyal

Hurst

2008

Public Health Ethics

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“…Furthermore, in populations where the prevalence of malaria is intermediate (20-50%) to high (50%), a positive Plasmodium detection test does not establish malaria as the cause of the patient's illness. 23 A syndromic approach can still perform well in areas like Sokoto, Nigeria, where the prevalence of malaria in febrile children was high.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Predictors of malaria in febrile children in Sokoto, Nigeria

et al. 2014

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Background:Presumptive diagnosis of malaria is widespread, even where microscopy is available. As fever is very nonspecific, this often leads to over diagnosis, drug wastage and loss of opportunity to consider alternative causes of fever, hence the need to improve on the clinical diagnosis of malaria.Materials and Methods:In a prospective cross-sectional comparative study, we examined 45 potential predictors of uncomplicated malaria in 800 febrile children (0-12 years) in Sokoto, Nigeria. We developed a clinical algorithm for malaria diagnosis and compared it with a validated algorithm, Olaleye's model.Results:Malaria was confirmed in 445 (56%). In univariate analysis, 13 clinical variables were associated with malaria. In multivariate analysis, vomiting (odds ratio, OR 2.6), temperature ≥ 38.5°C (OR 2.2), myalgia (OR 1.8), weakness (OR 1.9), throat pain (OR 1.8) and absence of lung crepitations (OR 5.6) were independently associated with malaria. In children over age 3 years, any 3 predictors had a sensitivity of 82% and specificity of 47% for malaria. An Olaleye score ≥ 5 had a sensitivity of 62% and a specificity of 51%.Conclusion:In hyperendemic areas, the sensitivity of our algorithm may permit presumptive diagnosis of malaria in children. Algorithm positive cases can be presumptively treated, and negative cases can undergo parasitological testing to determine need for treatment.

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“…The method is simple, does not require highly equipped facilities, and in most cases enables differentiation among the four species causing malaria in humans when performed by an experienced technician. However, This method can sometimes be misleading in identifying parasite species, especially in the case of low level of parasitemia and a mixed parasite infection or modification by drug treatment [20]. In recent years considerable attention has been given to molecular methods, including the PCR techniques.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nested Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) on Fixed Stained Slides in Comparison to Whole Blood as a Source of DNA in Southeast of Iran

Adel¹

2014

J Trop Dis

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The microscopic examination of Thick Blood Smears (TBS) remains the method of choice for the diagnosis of human malaria. Recently, alternative diagnostic methods, such as Nested PCR, have been used for the detection and identification of malaria parasites. The aim of this study was to compare the sensitivity and specificity of Nested PCR accomplished using DNA extracted from whole blood against fixed stained slides. 125 blood samples including 76(60.8%) male and 49(40.2%) female accomplished examinations. The percentage of the parasitaemia on positive samples was calculated from a total count of 200 leukocytes counted in a Giemsa stained thin blood films. The nested PCR assay carried out on DNA Extracted samples by specific primers to amplify 18ssr RNA Plasmodium gene. Of all 125 blood samples 50(40%) were positive (41(32.8%) P. vivax, 9(7.2%) P. falciparum) and 75(60%) were negative for malaria parasites using microscopy examination. Nested-PCR on whole blood specimens detected 66(52.8%) plasmodium species: 47(37.6%) P. vivax, 13(10.4%) P. falciparum, 6(4.8%) mixed infections P. vivax and P. falciparum. Nested-PCR on peripheral blood slides detected 49 (39.2%) plasmodium species: 34(27.2%) P. vivax, 10(8%) P. falciparum, 5(4%) mixed infections P. vivax and P. falciparum. The study showed that the sensitivity and specificity of nested PCR were 96% and 76%, respectively, when target DNA was extracted from blood and 78% and 86% when DNA was obtained from smears. These studies demonstrated that Plasmodium DNA might be successfully isolated from TBS indicating that this method of DNA preservation could be considered adequate and convenient for epidemiological studies.

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Utility of the detection of Plasmodiumparasites for the diagnosis of malaria in endemic areas

Cited by 9 publications

References 20 publications

Physician Brain Drain: Can Nothing Be Done?

Physician Brain Drain: Can Nothing Be Done?

Predictors of malaria in febrile children in Sokoto, Nigeria

Nested Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) on Fixed Stained Slides in Comparison to Whole Blood as a Source of DNA in Southeast of Iran

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