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The article discusses a study on the diagnostic difficulties with Plasmodium knowlesi infection in humans which is considered the fifth human pathogenic malaria parasite. Results of the testing of blood samples from gold miners with uncomplicated malaria indicated cases of Plasmodium knowlesi while DNA sequencing confirmed the presence of Plasmodium vivax infections. Study results also showed the geographic distribution of natural Plasmodium knowlesi human infections.

Background: Malaria screening for blood derived from any donors prior to transfusions is a standard procedure that should be performed; but, in fact, it is not routinely conducted. In case of the blood is infected with Plasmodium spp., the survival of parasites may be depending on, or even influencing, the profile of red blood cells (RBCs). Methods: This observational longitudinal study was conducted upon 55 bags of donor blood that randomly selected. Malaria infections were detected using Rapid Diagnostic Test/RDT with thin and thick blood smear confirmation. The changes of Plasmodium spp. viability and RBCs profiles, as well as other hematological parameters, were observed from the results of routine hematological examinations which were performed on days 1,7,14 and 21 of storage. Results: Among 55 blood samples, there were 17 and 38 bags, respectively, positive and negative for malaria, then used for analysis as the case and control groups. There were significant decreasing values (p< 0.05) of all routine blood examination parameters of donor blood, started from days 1, 7, 14, 21, and 28. There were no differences in decreasing profiles between those infected and non-infected donor blood (p> 0.05). On days 21 and 28 none of the positive samples still contained parasites. Conclusion: Erythrocytes profiles of donor blood significantly decreased with the duration of storage, but were not influenced by the presence of Plasmodium spp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Microscopic detection is the conventional method for detecting malaria parasites. Although it is efficient and inexpensive, it has its limitations. In recent years, polymeras chain reaction (PCR) has been considered superior to microscopy in detecting mixed Plasmodium infections or infections with low parasite density. To determine whether microscopic or nested PCR (nPCR) is better at detecting congenital malaria (CM). Methods: Blood smear examination and nPCR were performed with blood samples taken from mothers and their newborns, who were likely to be suffering from CM and in whom one of the symptoms was low birth weight (LBW). The sensitivity and specificity of each method were then compared. Results: During one year of study, the prevalence of CM among 92 LBW newborns was determined to be 6.8% using microscopy and 7.8% using nPCR. Among the 92 mother-infant paired subjects, CM was detected in 34 subjects (37%) by microscopy and in 39 subjects (42.4%) by nPCR. nPCR was more sensitive (76.5% vs 66.7%) but less specific (77.6% vs 84.9%) than microscopy. When the two methods were compared, nPCR gave significantly better results in diagnosing CM (AUC = 0.770; P < 0.001). Conclusion: Although microscopy remains the most appropriate method for the diagnosis of CM in remote areas, nPCR can be considered a complementary test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]