Post-Arrival Screening for Malaria in Asymptomatic Refugees Using Real-Time PCR

作者：Matisz Chelsea E; Naidu Prenilla; Shokoples Sandra E; Grice Diane; Krinke Valerie; Brown Stuart Z; Grochowska Kinga Kowalewska; Houston Stan; Yanow Stephanie K^*

来源：The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 2011, 84(1): 161-165.

DOI：10.4269/ajtmh.2011.10-0494

Malaria is a significant health risk to refugee populations originating from endemic areas, but there is little consensus on screening and/or treatment approaches for malaria in this population Furthermore, detection of malaria in semi immune asymptomatic refugees is limited by the sensitivity of diagnostic tests used for screening We determined the prevalence of malaria by microscopy and real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in a consecutive population of 324 asymptomatic refugees examined in Edmonton, Canada, during 2009-2010 Although all thick and thin blood smear results were negative, 10 subjects (3 1%) tested PCR positive for Plasmodium DNA Interestingly, 6 of 10 PCR positive subjects are at risk of malaria relapse by P vivax or P ovale infections These results suggest that appropriate guidelines for malaria screening should consider the risk of relapsing infections, and they highlight the potential usefulness of real-time PCR in the diagnosis of asymptomatic malaria

• 出版日期2011-1