Abstract
Reports of human infection with Plasmodium knowlesi, a monkey malaria, suggest that it and other nonhuman malaria species may be an emerging health problem. We report the use of a rapid test to supplement microscopic analysis in distinguishing the 5 malaria species that infect humans.
Highlights
Recent reports of Plasmodium knowlesi infections in humans in Sarawak and Sabah in Borneo and in the Pahang Peninsula of Malaysia have focused attention on the potential of monkey malarias to be a human health issue [1,2]
We have known for nearly 8 decades that, under laboratory conditions, several monkey malarias are capable of infecting humans and that P. knowlesi can be transmitted to humans by mosquito bite [6,7]
While the P. knowlesi parasite is carried by zoophilic mosquitoes, some monkey malarias such as P. cynomolgi and P. inui are transmitted by the same mosquito vectors that carry human malaria and represent an even wider threat
Summary
Recent reports of Plasmodium knowlesi infections in humans in Sarawak and Sabah in Borneo and in the Pahang Peninsula of Malaysia have focused attention on the potential of monkey malarias to be a human health issue [1,2]. We have known for nearly 8 decades that, under laboratory conditions, several monkey malarias are capable of infecting humans and that P. knowlesi can be transmitted to humans by mosquito bite [6,7]. Incorporating the capability to detect P. knowlesi into existing rapid tests already capable of detecting the other 4 Plasmodium species that infect humans (P. falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale, and P. malariae) would be beneficial.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
