Annals of Clinical Trials and Vaccines Research

Plasmodium_Falciparum

 Malaria may be a vector-borne communicable disease, caused by five different species of the genus Plasmodium, and is endemic to several tropical and sub-tropical countries of the world. At present, malaria diagnosis at the first health care level in India is conducted by either microscopy or rapid diagnostic assay (RDT). In recent years, molecular diagnosis (by PCR assay), has emerged because the most sensitive method for malaria diagnosis. India is very endemic to malaria and shoulders the burden of two major malaria parasites, Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax. Previous studies using PCR diagnostic test had unraveled several interesting facts on distribution of malaria parasites in India. However, these studies had several limitations from small sample size to limited geographical areas of sampling. In order to mitigate these limitations, we've collected finger-prick blood samples from 2,333 malaria symptomatic individuals in nine states from 11 geographic locations, covering almost the whole malaria endemic regions of India and performed all the three diagnostic tests (microscopy, RDT and PCR assay) and even have conducted comparative assessment on the performance of the three diagnostic tests. Since PCR assay clothed to be sensitive (827 malaria positive cases) among the three sorts of tests, we've utilized data from PCR diagnostic test for analyses and inferences. The results indicate varied distributional prevalence of P. vivax and P. falciparum consistent with locations in India, and also the mixed species infection thanks to these two species. The proportion of P. falciparum to P. vivax was found to be 49:51, and percentage of mixed species infections thanks to these two parasites was found to be 13% of total infections. Considering India is about for malaria elimination by 2030, this malaria epidemiological information is of high importance.  

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