Year: 2025
Type: conference-abstract
Abstract: Background: Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) are widely used in malaria control programs for their ease of use and ability to provide quick results.However, their sensitivity may be limited, particularly in detecting low-level or asymptomatic infections.Examination of the peripheral smears for detection of malaria is gold standard but expertise of microscopist plays important role, and may be responsible for missing presence of malaria parasite in peripheral smear.Asymptomatic carriers, though not exhibiting symptoms may be acting as reservoirs within the community and can still contribute to malaria transmission.Materials and methods: In this study, we aimed to detect Plasmodium species in asymptomatic individuals who tested negative for malaria using a RDT and examination of peripheral smear.A total of 131 RDTnegative samples were collected from asymptomatic individuals from selected villages of Bikaner district.Each sample was carefully processed to ensure the quality of DNA for downstream analysis.We employed real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) to enhance the detection sensitivity for low-level infections.DNA was extracted from each sample using a standardized extraction protocol.Following extraction, real-time PCR targeting Plasmodium species specific genes was performed to identify the presence of Plasmodium DNA in each sample.The PCR reactions were conducted in triplicate to ensure accuracy, and appropriate positive and negative controls were included in each run.Results: In this study, we analysed 131 asymptomatic, RDT and peripheral smear negative samples to investigate the presence of Plasmodium species.Our objective was to determine if Plasmodium species could be detected in asymptomatic individuals despite negative RDT and peripheral smear examination results.Out of the 131 samples, three were found to be positive for Plasmodium vivax (P.vivax) and negative for Plasmodium falciparum (P.falciparum).This finding suggests that asymptomatic individuals may harbour low-level infections that are not detected by standard diagnostic test, highlighting a potential gap in malaria detection and the importance of further research in surveillance of asymptomatic malaria.Conclusion: Our study revealed that, among 131 asymptomatic and RDT/peripheral smear negative, three samples tested positive for Plasmodium vivax.This indicates that asymptomatic individuals can carry low density malaria infections undetected by routine testing, pausing potential challenges to malaria control and elimination efforts.These findings underscore the need for more sensitive diagnostic tools and reinforce the importance of monitoring asymptomatic carriers to prevent further transmission. T1-O2 Hotspot districts with persistent Plasmodium vivax malaria pose a formidable challenge to malaria elimination in India
Source: Malaria Journal
Author: Manju Rahi ([email protected])
Language: English
Topic: Malaria Research and Control
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,890
Funders: Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Fundación Ramón Areces, Wellcome Trust, Menzies School of Health Research, Centres de Recerca de Catalunya, European Commission, Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, India, Indian Council of Medical Research, Agence Nationale de la Recherche, European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior, Generalitat de Catalunya, Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico, Mahidol University, Medicines for Malaria Venture, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais, Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, Ministério da Saúde, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Consejo Nacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación Tecnológica, Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, Global Health Innovative Technology Fund, Fundación Bancaria Caixa d'Estalvis i Pensions de Barcelona, National Institutes of Health, Medical Research Council, Research Executive Agency, National Health and Medical Research Council, Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Agencia Estatal de Investigación, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Awards: G1147577194, G1451634743, G1793764451, FIOCRUZ - to develop innovative tools that will help diagnose malaria cases, control malaria transmission and improve effectiveness of malaria treatment in t..., G2213416704, G2446663376, G2792670919, G2819494518, G3195631546, G3480869486, Immunological characterization of the P. vivax DBP, Amazonian Center of Excellence in Malaria Research, G4188887179, G4405782622, G4911865862, The newly-discovered splenic Plasmodium reservoir as a target to reduce global malaria burden, G603117930, G6094916935, G630635040, G661330594, G6879302011, An innovative pipeline to establish the complete Plasmodium vivax life-cycle in the laboratory, G7394682674, G855381709, G8670990856, Menzies School of Health Research - to improve genomic surveillance of Plasmodium vivax in malaria endemic countries, G891081937, G8920660035, G9000211089
OpenAlex ID: W4416858701
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