Missed Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax Mixed Infections in Ethiopia Threaten Malaria Elimination

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2021 Nov 30;106(2):667-670. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.21-0796.

Abstract

Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax are co-endemic in Ethiopia. This study investigated whether mixed infections were missed by microscopy from a 2017 therapeutic efficacy study at two health facilities in Ethiopia. All patients (N = 304) were initially classified as having single-species P. falciparum (n = 148 samples) or P. vivax infections (n = 156). Dried blood spots were tested for Plasmodium antigens by bead-based multiplex assay for pan-Plasmodium aldolase, pan-Plasmodium lactate dehydrogenase, P. vivax lactate dehydrogenase, and histidine-rich protein 2. Of 304 blood samples, 13 (4.3%) contained both P. falciparum and P. vivax antigens and were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction for species-specific DNA. Of these 13 samples, five were confirmed by polymerase chain reaction for P. falciparum/P. vivax co-infection. One sample, initially classified as P. vivax by microscopy, was found to only have Plasmodium ovale DNA. Plasmodium falciparum/P. vivax mixed infections can be missed by microscopy even in the context of a therapeutic efficacy study with multiple trained readers.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Coinfection / diagnosis*
  • Coinfection / epidemiology
  • Coinfection / parasitology*
  • DNA, Protozoan / genetics
  • Disease Eradication / standards*
  • Disease Eradication / statistics & numerical data
  • Ethiopia / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Malaria, Falciparum / diagnosis*
  • Malaria, Falciparum / epidemiology
  • Malaria, Vivax / diagnosis*
  • Malaria, Vivax / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Plasmodium falciparum / genetics*
  • Plasmodium falciparum / isolation & purification
  • Plasmodium vivax / genetics*
  • Plasmodium vivax / isolation & purification
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • DNA, Protozoan