Evaluating Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Tests and Microscopy for Detecting Plasmodium Infection and Status of Plasmodium falciparum Histidine-Rich Protein 2/3 Gene Deletions in Southeastern Nigeria.

Delays in malaria diagnosis increase treatment failures and deaths. In endemic regions, standard diagnostic methods are microscopy and malaria rapid diagnostic tests (mRDTs) detecting Plasmodium falciparum histidine-rich protein 2/3 (PFHRP2/PFHRP3), but gene deletions can allow certain parasites to remain undetected. We enlisted a cohort comprising 207 symptomatic individuals, encompassing both children and adults, at a hospital in Nnewi, Nigeria.

Malaria surveillance amongst pregnant women attending antenatal care in private hospitals in Onitsha metropolis, South Eastern Nigeria.

Background: Recent reports suggest that pregnant women living in holoendemic regions of sub-Sahara Africa die in great numbers annually due to malaria disease resulting from their higher susceptibility, reduced immunity and demographic associated factors. This work investigated the prevalence of in pregnant women attending antenatal care (ANC) in selected private hospitals in Onitsha metropolis South East Nigeria.

Methods: Venous blood samples were collected from 270 pregnant women during ANC visits between October 2016 and December 2017.