Abstract
PCR-based assays are the most sensitive and specific methods to detect malaria parasites.This study compared the diagnostic accuracy of three PCR-based assays that do not only differ in their sequence target, but also in the number of copies of their target region, for the detection of Plasmodium falciparum in 401 individuals living in a malaria-endemic area in Nigeria. Compared to a composite reference generated from results of all the 3 PCR assays, the stevor gene amplification had a sensitivity of 100% (Kappa = 1; 95% CI = 1.000–1.000), 83% (Kappa = 0.718; 95% CI = 0.648–0.788) by SSUrRNA gene PCR and 71% (Kappa = 0.552; 95% CI = 0.478–0.627) by the msa-2 gene amplification.Results from this study indicate that the stevor gene amplification is the most sensitive technique for the detection of P. falciparum. This assay may be an important reference standard, especially when a confirmatory technique with high sensitivity and specificity is needed for ruling out P. falciparum infection.
Highlights
Prompt and accurate diagnosis is an important tool in the effective management and control of malaria, a disease which accounts for more than a million deaths annually [1,2]
Malaria transmission has formerly been described as stable and uniformly intense through most of the year [24,25]. 401 children between 6 months and 8 years of age, from amongst those who reported for routine medical examination on complaint of fever, were enrolled into the study at the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital (DASH), Lafia between November, 2005 and July, 2006
Among the 401 children enrolled in this study, 169 presented with microscopically confirmed P. falciparum
Summary
Prompt and accurate diagnosis is an important tool in the effective management and control of malaria, a disease which accounts for more than a million deaths annually [1,2]. Microscopy, has its own limitations, even when performed by an expert. It is time-consuming and its sensitivity is limited, when parasitaemia is low [3]. Sensitivity and specificity are of crucial importance in any identification method as a false negative result could result in the non-treatment of a potentially fatal disease and a false positive result will expose individuals to unnecessary drug intake, with its associated sideeffects and high cost, while leaving the true cause of the illness untreated. Misdiagnosis of malaria, could have fatal consequences [4]. It is, important that a reliable, rapid and efficient method for diagnosis, surveillance and epidemiological studies is identified
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