A new, rapid assay, based on a single-round, multiplex PCR, can be used to detect Plasmodium falciparum, P. vivax, P. malariae or P. ovale in human blood. The PCR, which targets the conserved 18S small-subunit RNA genes of the parasites, not only permits a malarial infection to be detected but also allows each Plasmodium species present to be identified, even in cases of mixed infection.

BACKGROUND Malaria in Cameroon was previously known to be caused solely by Plasmodium falciparum but today, evidence points to other Plasmodium species including P. vivax, P. ovale and P. malariae. The purpose of this study was to identify the Plasmodium species in clinical samples from children residing in five epidemiological strata of malaria in Cameroon, so as to advise control policies. ...

BACKGROUND Plasmodium knowlesi is the commonest cause of malaria in Malaysia, but little is known regarding infection during pregnancy. METHODS To investigate comparative risk and consequences of knowlesi malaria during pregnancy, we reviewed (1) Sabah Health Department malaria-notification records created during 2012-2013, (2) prospectively collected data from all females with polymerase cha...

Plasmodium malariae is the only human malaria parasite species with a 72-hour intraerythrocytic cycle and the ability to persist in the host for life. We present a case of a P. malariae infection with clinical recrudescence after directly observed administration of artemether/lumefantrine. By using whole-genome sequencing, we show that the initial infection was polyclonal and the recrudescent i...

ognized as responsible for renal disease in tropical areas. Renal manifestations are mainly associated with two parasites: (i) Plasmodium malariae, which usually gives rise to an immune-complex mediated mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis (GN) several weeks after the onset of symptoms; and (ii) Plasmodium falciparum, which can cause different types of renal alterations, ranging from asymptomat...

BACKGROUND The simian parasite Plasmodium knowlesi is a common cause of human malaria in Malaysian Borneo and threatens the prospect of malaria elimination. However, little is known about the emergence of P. knowlesi, particularly in Sabah. We reviewed Sabah Department of Health records to investigate the trend of each malaria species over time. METHODS Reporting of microscopy-diagnosed malar...

Plasmodium malariae is widely distributed across the tropics, causing symptomatic malaria in humans with a 72-hour fever periodicity, and may present after latency periods lasting up to many decades. Delayed occurrence of symptoms is observed in humans using chemoprophylaxis, or patients having received therapies targeting P. falciparum intraerythrocytic asexual stages, but few investigators ha...

Plasmodium knowlesi morphologically resembles P. malariae; PCR assays are able to differentiate between the 2 species correctly. However, PCR is not available in many hospitals in P. knowlesi endemic areas, particularly in Southeast Asia. In places where PCR is not available, anti-malarial drugs for P. malariae or other non-P. falciparum or P. falciparum species are effective against P. knowles...