Malaria Prevalence in a Low Transmission Area, Jazan District of Southwestern Saudi Arabia
The Korean Journal of Parasitology
;
: 233-242, 2019.
Article
in English
| WPRIM
| ID: wpr-761747
ABSTRACT
Detailed description of malaria in low transmission areas is crucial for elimination. The current study aimed to provide a comprehensive description for malaria transmission in Jazan, a low transmission district, southwestern Saudi Arabia. Patients at a tertiary care hospital were recruited in our study between August 2016 and September 2018. Malaria diagnosis was performed through a species-specific nested polymerase chain reaction (nested PCR), microscopy and Paramax-3™ rapid detection test (RDT). Malaria was detected in 30 patients by the PCR, with point prevalence of 10.9%. Of these malaria infections, 80% was imported, 26.6% was asymptomatic and 23.3% was sub-microscopic. Malaria was reported throughout the year, with February/March and September/October peaks. Infection was significantly more in males than in females (P=0.01). Likewise, infections were detected more in febrile than in non-febrile patients (P=0.01). Adult aged 15–24 years, fever and travel were identified as high-risk factors. Malaria was primarily attributed to Plasmodium falciparum mono-infections, followed by P. vivax mono-infections and lastly to falciparum/vivax mixed infections accounting 76.6%, 16.6%, and 6.6% of PCR-confirmed malaria cases, respectively. The nested PCR was superior to the smear microscopy (sensitivity 76.6%; specificity 100%) and the RDT (sensitivity 83.3%, specificity 94.2%). The overall percent agreement between microscopy and the RDT was 92.7% (kappa=0.63). High proportion of imported malaria including sub-microscopic and sub-patent cases were described. We suggest that incorporation of molecular tool into the conventional malaria diagnosis is beneficial in Jazan district.
Full text:
Available
Index:
WPRIM (Western Pacific)
Main subject:
Plasmodium falciparum
/
Saudi Arabia
/
Tertiary Healthcare
/
Polymerase Chain Reaction
/
Prevalence
/
Sensitivity and Specificity
/
Diagnosis
/
Fever
/
Coinfection
/
Malaria
Type of study:
Diagnostic study
/
Prevalence study
/
Prognostic study
/
Risk factors
Limits:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Country/Region as subject:
Asia
Language:
English
Journal:
The Korean Journal of Parasitology
Year:
2019
Type:
Article
Similar
MEDLINE
...
LILACS
LIS