Malaria remains a major public health challenge in Ghana. However, heterogeneous transmission necessitates localized data for effective subnational targeting of control measures. The Ho Municipality, characterized by high rainfall and humidity ideal for year-round mosquito breeding, exemplifies a setting where such detailed epidemiological intelligence is needed but currently scarce. This study aimed to bridge this gap by analysing facility-based trends to inform precision public health interventions in this vulnerable region. A retrospective cross-sectional study, performing a census of all available malaria microscopy records from three major healthcare facilities in Ho Municipality over 36months (January 2020-December 2022) was conducted. Data were extracted from both paper-based logbooks and electronic health records. Descriptive statistics and multivariable regression analyses-specifically, a log-linear model was employed to identify factors associated with parasite density (presented as Geometric Mean Ratios, GMR) and a Poisson regression model to identify factors associated with test positivity (presented as Adjusted Prevalence Ratios, APR). All models were adjusted for age, sex, facility, and year. Among 27,171 tests, the overall test positivity rate (TPR) was 8.8%, showing a decline from 9.9% in 2020 to 7.2% in 2022. Significant disparities were observed: school-age children (5-12years) had the highest TPR (18.0%), and a fourfold disparity existed between Ho Municipal Hospital (21.0% TPR) and Ho Teaching Hospital (5.2% TPR). Transmission peaked seasonally in August (13.9% TPR).Plasmodium falciparumwas dominant (79.9% of confirmed cases). School-age children and adolescents demonstrated significantly higher parasite densities than adults (aGMR = 3.69 and aGMR = 3.57, respectively). Regression confirmed school-age children (aPR = 3.26) and adolescents (aPR = 3.49) as the highest-risk groups, with a significant age-sex interaction revealing elderly females were also at markedly increased risk (aPR = 2.15). This study identifies persistent, significant disparities in malaria burden linked to specific age groups, sex, and health facilities in Ho Municipality. These findings underline the urgent need for a targeted intervention strategy, including school-based chemoprevention programs, enhanced diagnostic support and staffing for high-burden facilities, and pre-emptive vector control ahead of peak rainfall seasons to accelerate progress towards malaria elimination.

Malaria remains a major public health problem in eastern Indonesia, and anemia is a frequent complication among infected individuals. Objective: To analyze the correlation between Plasmodium parasite density and anemia status among residents of Mau Bokul Village, East Sumba. This quantitative study employed a cross-sectional design with consecutive sampling and included 194 respondents. Malaria diagnosis was established through microscopic examination of Giemsa 3%–stained thick blood smears, while hemoglobin levels were measured using a digital device. The association between variables was analyzed using Spearman’s correlation test (p < 0.05). The findings showed a malaria prevalence of 4.1% (8/194), while anemia was identified in 17.52% (43/194) of respondents. All malaria-positive individuals were anemic, with a mean hemoglobin level of 7 g/dL, and most were classified as having severe anemia. Spearman’s test revealed a significant negative correlation between parasite density and hemoglobin levels (r = –0.318; p < 0.001), indicating that increasing parasite density is associated with decreasing hemoglobin concentrations. Parasite density shows a positive correlation with anemia status, underscoring the need for strengthened malaria control and anemia management in endemic settings. Recommendations: Integrate routine Hb screening in malaria case management and reinforce vector control and chemoprevention strategies.

Asymptomatic malaria represents a major challenge for malaria control and elimination efforts, particularly in endemic regions such as Gabon, where adult reservoirs are under-investigated. This study aimed to assess the burden and determinants of asymptomatic Plasmodium falciparum infection among adults in urban and rural communities in Gabon. A community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted between January and December 2023 in Bitam (rural), Libreville, and Owendo (urban). Adults aged ≥ 18years with no malaria symptoms or recent antimalarial treatment were included. Demographic, socio-economic, and ITN-use data were collected via structured questionnaire. Malaria was diagnosed by microscopy. Logistic regression models were used to identify factors associated with asymptomatic infection. Among 1,496 participants, the overall prevalence of asymptomatic P. falciparum infection was 15.3%, significantly higher in rural areas (22.4%) than in urban settings (4.1%; p < 0.01). Parasite densities were also higher in rural areas. Independent risk factors for asymptomatic malaria included rural residence (aOR: 7.1; 95% CI: [4.4-9.8]), being a worker (aOR: 5.2; 95% CI: [3.4-7.8]), attending school (p < 0.01). ITN use was low (32.7%) and not significantly protective in multivariate analysis. The substantial burden of asymptomatic malaria in adults, particularly in rural Gabon, underscores the need to broaden malaria control strategies. These interventions must be broadened to include adult populations, considering occupational exposure and local transmission dynamics. Expanding screening and treatment and improving ITN access and use are critical to reduce the hidden reservoir and achieve malaria elimination.

BackgroundGenomics is critical for malaria control and elimination by providing population-level monitoring of malarial gene flow. Whole genome sequencing is valuable for identifying such genomic changes and antimalarial drug resistance. However, sequencing submicroscopic and asymptomatic cases presents challenges due to their low parasite densities and relative abundance of human DNA. Selective whole genome amplification (SWGA) is a method that employs oligonucleotide primers and phi29 DNA polymerase to specifically amplify Plasmodium DNA. SWGA has proven effective in generating increased genome coverage for various Plasmodium species. Despite its promise, current SWGA protocols have proven unsuitable in routine clinical settings. This study optimizes the SWGA protocol to improve amplification efficiency and simplify processing of clinical samples.MethodsThirteen P. falciparum clinical whole blood samples from returning travellers underwent SWGA with varying incubation durations of 2, 8, and 16 h. Using a newly developed SWGA protocol, three samples were additionally incubated at 3 h with EquiPhi29™ DNA Polymerase, a newer version of the phi29 enzyme. Effectiveness of the varying conditions were compared by their amplification and sequencing yield, parasite DNA recovery, genome coverage and coverage depth. After read number normalization through random selection with rasusa, pairwise SNP comparison was also performed to ensure variant calling by freebayes was unaffected by the changes in condition. Pairwise agreement was tested by Cohen’s Kappa. Drug resistance profiles for each sample were generated with Malaria-Profiler to further verify these findings.ResultsThe results demonstrate that there were comparable amplification and sequencing yields between the 8 and 16 h SWGA durations. These durations also showed significant results similarities in variant calling with up to > 90% SNP concordance. Moreover, using the newer developed SWGA protocol, sequencing yields and genome coverage were significantly enhanced, achieving over 63% P. falciparum genome coverage in just three hours processing prior to sequencing. While reducing reagent costs by almost 60%. Overall, drug resistance profiles remained consistent across all tested conditions.ConclusionThis advance holds promise for faster, more cost-effective malaria diagnostics and genomic surveillance, improving clinical decision-making and supporting malaria elimination efforts.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12936-025-05643-9.

BackgroundGenotyping Plasmodium falciparum polymorphic merozoite genes to describe parasite genetic diversity and the complexity of malaria infections (COI) is routinely used to assess the effectiveness of malaria control interventions. They are also utilized in anti-malarial drug therapeutic efficacy studies (TES) to differentiate recrudescent parasites from new infections. However, these polymorphic genes are usually under selection. Therefore, neutral microsatellite markers are preferred as they are also easier to genotype. The current study investigated the genetic diversity and COI using the poly-α microsatellite marker to provide background information on circulating genotypes before its applied to TES in Kenya.MethodsDried blood spot (DBS) samples were obtained from 93 participants from a TES in Busia County in 2016 and 92 participants from a malaria monitoring study conducted in Kilifi in 2020. Genotyping of the poly-α microsatellite was done by PCR, capillary electrophoresis and the fragment data analysed using GeneMarker.ResultsAbout 97% and 87% of the samples from Busia and Kilifi, respectively, were successfully genotyped. The infections in Busia were mainly polyclonal (80%) with a significantly higher mean COI of 2.9 (p < 0.0001), while those in Kilifi were mostly monoclonal (52.5%) with a mean COI of 1.7. Despite on average a younger population and lower parasite density in Busia, both regions had similar expected heterozygosity (He) (Busia = 0.92; Kilifi = 0.90) while Kilifi recorded a slightly lower number of effective alleles (Ne) (Kilifi = 9.3; Busia = 10.8).ConclusionsThe poly-α microsatellite genotyping revealed high genetic diversity of malaria parasites in Busia and Kilifi. These findings define the genotypes (fragment sizes) observed in the two Kenyan populations, providing a proof of concept for the utility of poly-α in TES studies as a molecular correction tool and for the evaluation of the effectiveness of malaria interventions in Kenya.

BackgroundPrompt diagnosis and treatment are essential for malaria control but are typically assessed only among children under five. Older children and adults also experience malaria and may act as reservoirs for transmission but barriers such as distance to facilities, supply shortages, and mistrust of the health system limit access to care across age groups. This study aimed to determine how demographic and parasitological factors influence treatment-seeking behaviour over time.MethodsA community-based, open-enrollment longitudinal cohort study was conducted in rural Malawi from April 2019 to May 2020. Data were collected during monthly scheduled active case detection (ACD) visits and passive case detection (PCD) visits at local health centres. Malaria-related treatment-seeking behaviour was assessed using two outcomes: (1) self-reported treatment-seeking between ACD visits and (2) attendance at study-linked health centres during illness. Treatment-seeking was categorized as occurring in the formal or informal sectors. Mixed-effects logistic regression models were used to identify predictors of formal-sector treatment-seeking and health centre attendance, adjusting for clustering at the individual and household levels. Poisson regression was used to estimate rate ratios of PCD visits per person-year.ResultsThe study enrolled 962 participants who contributed 7293 total visits, including 6794 ACD and 499 PCD visits. Most reported treatment-seeking (82%, 720/880 visits) occurred in the formal health sector and longer walking time and higher household head education were associated with reduced odds of formal treatment-seeking (OR = 0.28 for > 90 min vs. < 30 min; OR = 0.41 for secondary education vs. no education). In longitudinal models, older age, male sex, and greater distance to the facility were consistently associated with lower odds of attending PCD visits. Fever was positively associated with subsequent PCD visits (OR = 1.60(1.16–2.21)), but Plasmodium falciparum infection and parasite density were not. The overall PCD visit rate was 70 per 100 person-years and was significantly lower among older children, adults, males, and households farther from health facilities.ConclusionsDespite free access to malaria care, barriers to treatment persist. These findings highlight the need for more equitable, community-based approaches to malaria diagnosis and treatment across all age groups.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12936-025-05640-y.

Ecuador is approaching malaria elimination, but its Amazonian Putumayo canton borders regions in Colombia and Peru with high transmission intensity. This 'frontier' setting represents a critical vulnerability where asymptomatic infections may sustain transmission, undetected by routine surveillance. In a repeated cross-sectional study during the 2023 rainy season, we surveyed 293 asymptomatic individuals in four riverine communities in Putumayo. We used a tiered diagnostic approach: rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs), expert microscopy, and real-time qPCR targeting the 18S rRNA gene. No infections were detected by RDT (0/293). Microscopy identified three P. vivax infections (1.0%, 95% CI 0.2-2.4%). qPCR detected five positive cases (1.7%, 95% CI 0.6-3.9%), revealing two additional submicroscopic infections. The failure of a subsequent species-specific PCR and high Cq values (mean 32.6) indicated very low parasite densities. Infections were found only in the mid-to-late rainy season, predominantly in males. Molecular surveillance revealed a low-density, asymptomatic malaria reservoir missed entirely by RDTs, and partially by microscopy. This hidden burden represents a critical blind spot for Ecuador's elimination program. To achieve and sustain elimination, surveillance in such border regions must incorporate highly sensitive molecular tools and be supported by robust cross-border collaboration.

Asymptomatic malaria carriers often harbor low parasite densities missed by rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs), yet they contribute to transmission. Direct skin feeding assays (DSFs) can sensitively measure their infectiousness to mosquitoes. To characterize human-to-mosquito transmission from the asymptomatic reservoir in Bagamoyo, Tanzania, DSFs were performed in persons >5 years of age positive for P. falciparum by RDT or real-time PCR. Fifty colony-reared Anopheles gambiae were fed on the posterior calves. Successful mosquito infection was defined as ≥1 oocyst-positive mosquito midgut among 25 dissected eight days post-skin feeding. Among 491 participants with median parasite density of 5.1 parasites/uL who underwent DSF, 22% were infectious to mosquitoes. RDT-positive participants infected roughly twice as many mosquitoes compared to RDT-negative/PCR-positive persons. However, up to 21% of infectious carriers were PCR-negative at the time of skin feeding, after screening PCR-positive a few days earlier. Overall, 9.1% (342/3,741) of mosquitoes fed on infectious carriers were parasite-positive at dissection. Half of infectious individuals infected a single mosquito, while the top 16 transmitters (3% of those undergoing DSF) cumulatively infected 57% of infected mosquitoes. RDT-positive school-age children (6-15yo), 27% of the DSF cohort, contributed to 58% of infected mosquitoes. Unexpectedly, mosquito midguts from 39 DSFs (44% of oocyst-positive feeds analyzed) tested positive for Plasmodium ovale. Parasites circulating at the limit of PCR detection commonly infect mosquitoes. However, a small proportion of highly infectious carriers contribute disproportionately to transmission, offering potential for targeted interventions. Plasmodium ovale was frequently co-transmitted with P. falciparum to mosquitoes.

Malaria places high economic burden on health care in Nigeria, and its control is often a challenges in pregnant women, especially at early stage. Thus blood investigations are necessary in order to ascertain the load of parasites in the blood and the extent of their effects on leucocytes. Therefore, a laboratory study was carried out, using standard procedure, to assess the effects of parasites density on leucocyte s concentration among sample300 pregnant women at different treatment.The descriptive characteristics for Parasite Density (PD), Parked Cell Volume (PCV), Haemoglobin (Hb) and White blood cells (WBC) among the 144 studied pregnant women, based on trimester. Mean was employed as a measure of central tendency to represent an average value; while range, confidence interval and coefficient of variation were used as measures of dispersion to show variability among the sampled pregnant women and the trimesters. Descriptive characteristics for parasite density shows the mean, range, confidence interval and coefficient of variation for parasite density among the 144 pregnant women based on trimester. The overall result indicated mean parasite density of 965.0±825 parasites per µl, within confidence interval (829.0 - 1101.0 parasites/µl), among the pregnant women (Table 1). However, the results revealed high variability in parasite density judging by the wide range (120 - 4000 parasites/µl), standard deviation (±825 parasites/µl) and coefficient of variability (85.6%). Mean parasite density for the first, second and third trimesters were 1015.0±903.46, 924.3±796.11 and 955.8±787.70 parasites/µl, respectively. Thus, parasite density was on the 29 30 average higher in the first trimester, followed by third, then second in that order of magnitude. Result of the Completely Randomized Design analysis of variance for parasite density, based on the 48 pregnant women per trimester as replicates is as shown in Table 2. The result did not show significant (p&gt;0.05) difference in the observed mean parasite density among Consequently it is recommended that adequate protection and medical attention accorded to pregnant women generally. Although all stages of trimesters were vulnerable, special care should be given to first trimester as to avoid miscarriage and the third trimester from stillbirth.

BackgroundRecent epidemiological data indicate that 30–50% of all malaria infections are asymptomatic, with parasite densities below the limit of detection of standard diagnostic tests. A highly sensitive rapid diagnostic test (hsRDT) was developed to detect these low-density Plasmodium falciparum infections. This study evaluated the diagnostic performance of both hsRDTs and conventional RDTs (cRDT) in reactive case detection (RACD) activities among individuals (contacts) living and/or working in proximity to an “index case” in Ann Township in Rakhine State, Myanmar.MethodsThis prospective community-based RACD study was conducted in 2017–2018 among residents aged at least five years old in 50 villages of Ann Township. We assessed the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of both a hsRDT (NxTek™ Eliminate Malaria Ag P.f) and a cRDT (SD Malaria Ag P.f/P.v) using an ultra-sensitive polymerase chain reaction (usPCR) diagnostic assay as the gold standard.ResultsA total of 1,990 participants, all contacts of 51 index P. falciparum cases, were recruited. Among them, 28 (1.4%) tested positive by cRDT, 78 (3.9%) by hsRDT, and 171 (8.6%) by usPCR for P. falciparum mono-infection. The sensitivity and specificity of the hsRDT were 27.9% (95% CI 18.2–39.6%) and 98.8% (95% CI 98.2–99.4%), respectively, while the sensitivity and specificity of the cRDT were 13.7% (95% CI 7.6–20.7%) and 100% (95% CI 100–100%), respectively. The differences in sensitivity and specificity between hsRDT and cRDT were statistically significant (p < 0.01 for both).ConclusionsAlthough hsRDTs identified more infected contacts than cRDTs during reactive case detection, they have low overall sensitivity compared to usPCR. In resource-limited settings, such as Myanmar, the use of hsRDTs in RACD should be guided by careful consideration of their field feasibility and cost-effectiveness to support malaria elimination efforts.(285 words).Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12936-025-05699-7.

Allele frequency of Hemoglobin S among patients with uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in N'Djamena, Chad.

Parasites suffer too: Effects of host's pollutant exposure on some life-history traits of acanthocephalan parasites.

Filarial parasites are long-lived organisms that cause extreme morbidity due to pathological manifestations, including lymphedema, hydrocele, and elephantiasis. Understanding the hosts’ immune responses to filarial parasites is crucial to developing new and effective anti-filarial treatments. The review thoroughly examines and summarises immunological modulation, evasion strategies, and filarial–host immune interactions to provide an updated knowledge of the immune evasion manoeuvres used by filarial parasites. An extensive literature search was conducted using databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, and Scopus to identify articles published mostly between 2000 and 2025 that focus on the crucial molecular, cellular, and immunomodulatory strategies of filarial parasites. The immune evasion mechanisms include the modulation of effector T cells, induction of apoptosis in immune cells, the release of immunomodulatory proteins, and the induction of regulatory immune cell populations, thereby ensuring the mutual survival of both the parasite and the host. An antigen-specific T helper 2 (Th2) response and an increase in Interleukin-10 (IL-10) producing CD4+ T cells, along with a suppressed T helper 1 (Th1) response, are the key immunological characteristics of filarial pathogenesis. This antigen-specific T-cell hyporesponsiveness seems necessary for keeping the long-term infection going, which often involves large parasite densities. This review summarises filarial parasites’ mechanisms and strategies in regulating host immune responses and will facilitate future studies on the filarial pathogenesis, leading to the development of novel anti-filarial therapeutics.

Malaria continues to remain a serious public health problem, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite substantial investment in malaria control, asymptomatic infections continue to hinder elimination efforts in Nigeria. Individuals with asymptomatic parasitaemia carry transmissible parasites without showing symptoms and therefore remain undetected by routine surveillance. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors of asymptomatic malaria infection in selected health facilities in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 400 apparently healthy participants attending five health facilities: Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), Plateau State Specialist Hospital (PSSH), Bingham University Teaching Hospital (BHUTH), Comprehensive Health Centre (CHC) Dadin Kowa, and Vom Christian Hospital (VCH). Blood samples were examined for malaria parasites by Giemsa-stained thick and thin films under light microscopy, and parasite density was estimated per microliter of blood. Demographic and behavioural data were obtained through structured questionnaires. Statistical analyses were performed using the chi-square test and bivariate logistic regression to determine associations among asymptomatic malaria, demographic variables, and potential risk factors. The overall prevalence of asymptomatic malaria was 19.5% (78) by microscopy, varying across facilities from 11.2% to 30.0%. Males showed significantly higher infection (26%) than females (15.7%). Low parasite density (&lt;1,000 parasites/µL) dominated (41%), although 24.4% of infected individuals exhibited high parasitaemia despite being asymptomatic. Occupation was significantly (P&lt; 0.05) associated with infection status. Use of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) did not show significant protective effect (p&gt;0.05), as infection was still common among regular users (19.3%). These findings underscore the substantial reservoir of silent carriers that may sustain malaria transmission in

Populations of Culex pipiens, which is considered a primary vector of West Nile Virus, are not uniformly shaped, and hence, they are difficult to work on, not only because of the complex structure of the species but also due to the possible deformations caused by several factors like temperature, pH, parasite, and bacterial density. Larval density is another crucial factor. This study summarizes the effects of larval density in Cx. pipiens as a model of experimental semi-controlled ecomorphs by two different geometric morphometrics methods. The landmark-based method explains that dimorphism is clearly visualized in both the size and shape of the wings. It also shows that females and males have gradually traceable deformations. When the population reaches a high larval density, which is calculated as approximately 0.5 cm3/individual or, in other words, 1 larva/mL in Cx. pipiens, it can be considered a breaking point, where deformations in shape are observed through all study periods, indicating that it is effected separately and varies independently from the other factors. The wings become smaller in both sexes as the larval density increases. Similar results are obtained by Elliptic Fourier Analysis, which explains the difference in the contour of the wing, regardless of where the landmarks on the veins are located.

Background: Thrombocytopenia, a condition characterized by a low platelet count, is the most prevalent hematological abnormality observed in acute malaria patients. Malaria remains a major global public health problem, with more than 200 million clinical cases reported annually. Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the correlation between the degree of thrombocytopenia and the parasite density in confirmed cases of Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax. Method: This research was a descriptive observational study using a cross-sectional design. Clinical hematological examinations and peripheral blood smear preparations were performed on malaria patients, followed by analysis of platelet count, hemoglobin levels, and leukocyte count. Result: Thrombocytopenia, commonly found in acute malaria, was observed in 63.4% of cases, underscoring its key role as a diagnostic biomarker. This study showed significant association between hemoglobin levels and thrombocytopenia severity (p-value &lt; 0.05), whereas leukocyte counts did not show a significant association with thrombocytopenia severity (p-value &gt; 0.05). The degree of thrombocytopenia differed between the two types of malaria, assisting the differentiation of infections. Anemia, another detailed hematological indicator, frequently found in P. falciparum cases. Conclusion: Understanding hematological indicator as key-role of malaria diagnosis is vital for accurate diagnosis and effective management of malaria, especially in endemic regions. Continued research and routine hematological surveillance are crucial to improving malaria control and treatment outcomes.

BackgroundMalaria remains a major public health concern in Ghana, but regional variations in clinical presentation, parasitaemia, anaemia, and preventive measure uptake are not well characterized. This study assessed these parameters across three ecological zones.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among 459 participants in Ho (forest zone), Keta (coastal zone), and Nkwanta (savannah zone). Clinical assessments recorded signs and symptoms, malaria was diagnosed using rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) and microscopy, and parasitaemia was categorized as low, moderate, high, or hyper-parasitaemia. Haemoglobin concentration was measured to determine anaemia prevalence and severity, while insecticide-treated net (ITN) ownership and usage were also assessed. Data were summarized as means with standard deviations and proportions, with site comparisons using Chi-square/Fisher’s exact, Kruskal–Wallis, and Mann–Whitney tests.ResultsOverall malaria prevalence was 15.2% by RDT and 9.7% by microscopy, highest in Nkwanta. Most cases were uncomplicated (88.7%), though severe malaria anaemia was most frequent in Nkwanta (24.4%). Fever (86.9%) and anaemia (79.3%) were the most common signs, while headache (64.9%), nausea (55.8%), and chills/rigor (47.1%) were the leading symptoms. Geometric mean parasite density was significantly higher in Keta (11,715.6 parasites/µL) compared to Nkwanta (7616.4) and Ho (5880.1; p = 0.0003). Anaemia prevalence was 79.3% overall, with location-specific differences (Nkwanta: 94.1%, Keta: 82.9%, Ho: 69.8%; p < 0.0001), and was most severe among hyper-parasitaemic individuals. ITN ownership was 69.7% overall, highest in Nkwanta (85.2%), but usage among owners was only 61.3%, with significant location differences (Nkwanta: 70.4%, Keta: 60.0%, Ho: 51.6%; p = 0.008).ConclusionMalaria presentation, parasite density, anaemia burden, and LLIN uptake vary significantly across ecological zones in Ghana. These findings underscore the inadequacy of a one-size-fits-all approach and reinforce the importance of Ghana’s subnational tailoring (SNT) strategy, with implications for refining age, ecology and timing-specific interventions.

A genetic indicator of the parasites' vulnerability to anti-malarial medications is the Plasmodium falciparum multidrug resistance gene 1 (pfmdr1). In this study, malaria patients aged 0–14 who were treated at Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital in Kano, Nigeria, were evaluated for multidrug-resistant resistance gene 1 (MDR1) mutations. After confirming the malaria parasite density in 100 children's samples, the samples were genotyped using BigDye (v3.1) terminator cycle sequencing to look for two SNPs in pfmdr1 on samples with high and moderate parasite densities. Fisher's exact (FE) tests and Pearson Chi-square were used to evaluate the data. Of the 100 samples, 57% of the patients had low (+) malaria parasite densities, 28% had moderate (++) densities, and 15% had high (+++) densities. Only seven samples were successfully amplified for the pfmdr1 gene located at codon 1246, whereas 31 were successfully amplified and processed for the pfmdr1 gene located at codon 86 with an amplicon size of 534 bp. A Pfmdr1-N86Y mutation was found in one sample (3.2%). Additionally, the results indicated no correlation (P = 0.4237) between sex and the pfmdr1SNP mutation. Nonetheless, there was a significant correlation (P = 0.0043) between the pfmdr1 mutation and the age groups. According to the current study, Kano state in northern Nigeria may have strains of P. falciparum that are less sensitive to the artemisinin component of artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT). The Plasmodium falciparum parasites' development of this resistance gene puts malaria chemotherapy at serious risk because the parasite will be immune to the widely prescribed anti-malarial medications.

Can malaria rapid diagnostic tests be used to detect simian malaria?

Plasmodium falciparum carriage in a population under long-term, intensive malaria control in Kedougou region, Senegal: a 1-year cohort study.