Absence of asymptomatic cases of malaria in a historically endemic indigenous locality of the Department of Caaguazú, Paraguay: moving toward elimination.

INTRODUCTION: Paraguay was among the 16 countries that reported zero indigenous malaria cases in 2014. METHODS: A cross-sectional observational descriptive study was performed in 100 adults from Santa Teresa, Paraguay. Parasite detection was carried out using seminested multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and microscopy. RESULTS Among the participants, 44% were female and 56% were male, and 89% had a malaria history. No parasites were detected with either of the methods. CONCLUSIONS: There were no asymptomatic cases in Santa Teresa, and this finding is very promising. A longitudinal study should be performed to confirm that there are no asymptomatic cases in this locality.