Detection of mixed Plasmodium falciparum & P. vivax infections by nested-PCR in Pakistan, Iran & Afghanistan.

Background & Objectives: Species identification and information on transmission pattern of malaria parasite in any malaria endemic area is key to success for a malaria control programme. In this investigation, malaria diagnosis using molecular method was used to assess the transmission pattern of malaria parasite in three malaria endemic regions: Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan.

Methods: Blood samples were collected from the patients presenting with vivax malaria from Afghanistan (n=108), Iran (n=200) and Pakistan (n=199).

Molecular characterization of Plasmodium vivax clinical isolates in Pakistan and Iran using pvmsp-1, pvmsp-3alpha and pvcsp genes as molecular markers.

In this study, the diversity of Plasmodium vivax populations circulating in Pakistan and Iran has been investigated by using circumsporozoite protein (csp) and merozoite surface proteins 1 and 3alpha (msp-1 and msp-3alpha) genes as genetic markers. Infected P. vivax blood samples were collected from Pakistan (n=187) and Iran (n=150) during April to October 2008, and were analyzed using nested-PCR/RFLP and sequencing methods.