Absence of Plasmodium inui and Plasmodium cynomolgi, but detection of Plasmodium knowlesi and Plasmodium vivax infections in asymptomatic humans in the Betong division of Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo

Abstract Background Plasmodium knowlesi, a simian malaria parasite, has become the main cause of malaria in Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo. Epidemiological data on malaria for Sarawak has been derived solely from hospitalized patients, and more accurate epidemiological data on malaria is necessary. There...

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Main Authors: Angela Siner, Sze-Tze Liew, Khamisah Abdul Kadir, Dayang Shuaisah Awang Mohamad, Felicia Kavita Thomas, Mohammad Zulkarnaen, Balbir Singh
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2017-10-01
Series:Malaria Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12936-017-2064-9
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spelling doaj-ccbe950d8747469395f7ac9676abadf62020-11-25T00:35:54ZengBMCMalaria Journal1475-28752017-10-0116111110.1186/s12936-017-2064-9Absence of Plasmodium inui and Plasmodium cynomolgi, but detection of Plasmodium knowlesi and Plasmodium vivax infections in asymptomatic humans in the Betong division of Sarawak, Malaysian BorneoAngela Siner0Sze-Tze Liew1Khamisah Abdul Kadir2Dayang Shuaisah Awang Mohamad3Felicia Kavita Thomas4Mohammad Zulkarnaen5Balbir Singh6Malaria Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia SarawakMalaria Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia SarawakMalaria Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia SarawakMalaria Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia SarawakMalaria Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia SarawakMalaria Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia SarawakMalaria Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia SarawakAbstract Background Plasmodium knowlesi, a simian malaria parasite, has become the main cause of malaria in Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo. Epidemiological data on malaria for Sarawak has been derived solely from hospitalized patients, and more accurate epidemiological data on malaria is necessary. Therefore, a longitudinal study of communities affected by knowlesi malaria was undertaken. Methods A total of 3002 blood samples on filter paper were collected from 555 inhabitants of 8 longhouses with recently reported knowlesi malaria cases in the Betong Division of Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo. Each longhouse was visited bimonthly for a total of 10 times during a 21-month study period (Jan 2014–Oct 2015). DNA extracted from blood spots were examined by a nested PCR assay for Plasmodium and positive samples were then examined by nested PCR assays for Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium malariae, Plasmodium ovale, Plasmodium knowlesi, Plasmodium cynomolgi and Plasmodium inui. Blood films of samples positive by PCR were also examined by microscopy. Results Genus-specific PCR assay detected Plasmodium DNA in 9 out of 3002 samples. Species-specific PCR identified 7 P. knowlesi and one P. vivax. Malaria parasites were observed in 5 thick blood films of the PCR positive samples. No parasites were observed in blood films from one knowlesi-, one vivax- and the genus-positive samples. Only one of 7 P. knowlesi-infected individual was febrile and had sought medical treatment at Betong Hospital the day after sampling. The 6 knowlesi-, one vivax- and one Plasmodium-infected individuals were afebrile and did not seek any medical treatment. Conclusions Asymptomatic human P. knowlesi and P. vivax malaria infections, but not P. cynomolgi and P. inui infections, are occurring within communities affected with malaria.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12936-017-2064-9Plasmodium knowlesiMalariaAsymptomaticSubmicroscopic
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Angela Siner
Sze-Tze Liew
Khamisah Abdul Kadir
Dayang Shuaisah Awang Mohamad
Felicia Kavita Thomas
Mohammad Zulkarnaen
Balbir Singh
spellingShingle Angela Siner
Sze-Tze Liew
Khamisah Abdul Kadir
Dayang Shuaisah Awang Mohamad
Felicia Kavita Thomas
Mohammad Zulkarnaen
Balbir Singh
Absence of Plasmodium inui and Plasmodium cynomolgi, but detection of Plasmodium knowlesi and Plasmodium vivax infections in asymptomatic humans in the Betong division of Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo
Malaria Journal
Plasmodium knowlesi
Malaria
Asymptomatic
Submicroscopic
author_facet Angela Siner
Sze-Tze Liew
Khamisah Abdul Kadir
Dayang Shuaisah Awang Mohamad
Felicia Kavita Thomas
Mohammad Zulkarnaen
Balbir Singh
author_sort Angela Siner
title Absence of Plasmodium inui and Plasmodium cynomolgi, but detection of Plasmodium knowlesi and Plasmodium vivax infections in asymptomatic humans in the Betong division of Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo
title_short Absence of Plasmodium inui and Plasmodium cynomolgi, but detection of Plasmodium knowlesi and Plasmodium vivax infections in asymptomatic humans in the Betong division of Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo
title_full Absence of Plasmodium inui and Plasmodium cynomolgi, but detection of Plasmodium knowlesi and Plasmodium vivax infections in asymptomatic humans in the Betong division of Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo
title_fullStr Absence of Plasmodium inui and Plasmodium cynomolgi, but detection of Plasmodium knowlesi and Plasmodium vivax infections in asymptomatic humans in the Betong division of Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo
title_full_unstemmed Absence of Plasmodium inui and Plasmodium cynomolgi, but detection of Plasmodium knowlesi and Plasmodium vivax infections in asymptomatic humans in the Betong division of Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo
title_sort absence of plasmodium inui and plasmodium cynomolgi, but detection of plasmodium knowlesi and plasmodium vivax infections in asymptomatic humans in the betong division of sarawak, malaysian borneo
publisher BMC
series Malaria Journal
issn 1475-2875
publishDate 2017-10-01
description Abstract Background Plasmodium knowlesi, a simian malaria parasite, has become the main cause of malaria in Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo. Epidemiological data on malaria for Sarawak has been derived solely from hospitalized patients, and more accurate epidemiological data on malaria is necessary. Therefore, a longitudinal study of communities affected by knowlesi malaria was undertaken. Methods A total of 3002 blood samples on filter paper were collected from 555 inhabitants of 8 longhouses with recently reported knowlesi malaria cases in the Betong Division of Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo. Each longhouse was visited bimonthly for a total of 10 times during a 21-month study period (Jan 2014–Oct 2015). DNA extracted from blood spots were examined by a nested PCR assay for Plasmodium and positive samples were then examined by nested PCR assays for Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium malariae, Plasmodium ovale, Plasmodium knowlesi, Plasmodium cynomolgi and Plasmodium inui. Blood films of samples positive by PCR were also examined by microscopy. Results Genus-specific PCR assay detected Plasmodium DNA in 9 out of 3002 samples. Species-specific PCR identified 7 P. knowlesi and one P. vivax. Malaria parasites were observed in 5 thick blood films of the PCR positive samples. No parasites were observed in blood films from one knowlesi-, one vivax- and the genus-positive samples. Only one of 7 P. knowlesi-infected individual was febrile and had sought medical treatment at Betong Hospital the day after sampling. The 6 knowlesi-, one vivax- and one Plasmodium-infected individuals were afebrile and did not seek any medical treatment. Conclusions Asymptomatic human P. knowlesi and P. vivax malaria infections, but not P. cynomolgi and P. inui infections, are occurring within communities affected with malaria.
topic Plasmodium knowlesi
Malaria
Asymptomatic
Submicroscopic
url http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12936-017-2064-9
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