American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene · 1998 · 64 citations · 13 references
Veterinary MedicineBiologyInfectious DiseasesDiagnostic ParasitologyMolecular DiagnosticsParasitologyBlood Parasite DiagnosisInfectious Disease Molecular TestingMalariaMolecular Diagnosis Of ParasitesParasitic Disease DiagnosisPathogen DetectionMicroscopyMixed Parasitic InfectionsMixed Protozoal InfectionsMolecular Detection Of ParasitesParasite DiagnosisParasite Species IdentificationPlasmodium FalciparumPlasmodium Vivax
A Plasmodium lactate dehydrogenase dipstick designed to separately detect P. falciparum and P. vivax malaria was evaluated in two Honduran populations where both species are endemic. The dipstick was compared to thick film microscopy; the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to analyze discordant results. The dipstick had a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 95% compared with microscopy in the diagnosis of Plasmodium infections in a hospital population; the mean parasite density was approximately 590/mm3. In a field sample of mostly asymptomatic volunteers, the sensitivity of the dipstick for Plasmodium infection varied with parasite density. Additionally, the sensitivity and specificity of the dipstick was similar to thick film microscopy in the diagnosis of vivax malaria compared with the PCR. The dipstick was unable to detect P. vivax in the presence of P. falciparum because of cross-reactivity in the pan-specific band. Accurate species identification in mixed infections remains a problem in malaria diagnosis.
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Georges Snounou, Suganya Viriyakosol, William Jarra et al. · Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology · 1993 · 919 citations