Molecular evidence of asymptomatic and multispecies malaria infections in a small community on the north coast of Madang Province, Papua New Guinea

@#Asymptomatic malaria is prevalent in highly endemic areas of Papua New Guinea and is a challenge for malaria prevention and control strategies. We used nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to determine the prevalence of asymptomatic malaria and parasite species distribution in a small community on the north coast of Madang, Papua New Guinea. A population household study was conducted in October, 2015. A pretested questionnaire was used to collect demographic data. Giemsa-stained thin and thick blood films were examined for detection, identification and quantification of malaria parasites. Due to wide discrepancies in malaria microscopy results, only molecular analysis data are presented here. The prevalence of asymptomatic malaria was 62.5% (40/64) with mixed multispecies infections accounting for 20% (13/64). The prevalence of malaria parasite carriers observed here in the small community is higher than previously reported for the same region. Asymptomatic malaria remains a challenge for malaria elimination and PCR testing should be considered in areas where malaria transmission is low.

Sweat function in the diabetic foot.

BACKGROUND: Autonomic dysfunction, an early manifestation of diabetic neuropathy, presents with altered sweating patterns, leading to dryness and fissuring. We conducted a study to assess the sweat function in the diabetic foot and to determine the interrelation between the duration of diabetes, sensation, fissuring, and sweating. METHODS: The sweat function was assessed in 30 diabetic patients, 28 of whom had fissuring of the feet, using Ninhydrin impregnated discs. RESULTS: There was a significant association between fissuring and sensation, but not between the duration of diabetes and fissuring and between loss of sweating and fissuring. In 18 patients (60%) there was impairment or absence of sweating in the presence of normal sensation. CONCLUSION: Although fissuring increases with long-standing diabetes and sweating is reduced in diabetic patients with fissures on the foot, the correlation between these entities was not statistically significant. Since 60% patients had altered sweating in the presence of normal sensations, the sweat test can be used as an early indicator of diabetic neuropathy.