AI Article Synopsis

  • In Tunisia, the detection of malaria in asymptomatic individuals is essential for malaria eradication efforts, relying mainly on microscopic blood smear analysis, which can be affected by the examiner's experience and parasite levels.
  • A study was conducted with 260 participants from malaria-endemic areas, comparing the effectiveness of PCR and microscopy for malaria detection, with PCR revealing a higher detection rate than microscopy.
  • The findings indicate that PCR is more effective than microscopy for identifying low levels of malaria parasites, especially in asymptomatic cases, which can help lower the risk of malaria transmission in Tunisia.

Article Abstract

Background: In Tunisia, detection of Plasmodium in asymptomatic individuals from endemic countries is a critical measure in national program of malaria eradication. The screening is based on microscopic examination of thick and thin blood smears. However, the performance of this diagnosis is closely related to the experience of biologist and the parasitaemia.

Aim: The objective of this study was to evaluate the contribution of the PCR in the screening of malaria.

Methods: This prospective study involved 260 students from malaria endemic areas who were screened for malaria between september 2011 and june 2013. Each subject had a blood sample which was examined for malaria by microscopy and nested multiplex PCR.

Results: PCR detected the presence of Plasmodium in 13 blood samples (5%). While microscopy was positive only in nine cases (3.5%). The discordances involved five negative samples at microscopy and which were positive in PCR and a negative sample in PCR which was positive at microscopy. A mixed infection with Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium malariae was identified by PCR. For this case, microscopy diagnosed only Plasmodium falciparum specie.

Conclusion: PCR is more efficient than microscopy in detecting low parasitaemia ; particularly observed in asymptomatic subjects. This technique allows to reduce asymptomatic carriage of Plasmodium and reduce the risk of a resumption of transmission of malaria in our country.

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