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Background: Both Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum are prevalent in Pakistan, yet up-to-date data on the epidemiology of malaria in Pakistan are not available. This study was undertaken to determine the current prevalence and distribution of Plasmodium species across the country. Methods: A malariometric population survey was conducted in 2011 using blood samples collected from 801 febrile patients of all ages in four provinces and the capital city of Islamabad. Microscopically confirmed Plasmodium-positive blood samples were reconfirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Confirmed parasite-positive samples were subjected to species-specific PCR capable of detecting four species of human malaria. Results: Of the 707 PCR-positive samples, 128 (18%) were P. falciparum, 536 (76%) were P. vivax, and 43 (6%) were mixed P. falciparum and P. vivax. Ninety-four microscopy-positive samples were PCR-negative, and Plasmodium malariae and Plasmodium ovale were not detected. Prevalence of P. vivax ranged from 2.4% in Punjab Province to 10.8% in Sindh Province and prevalence of P. falciparum ranged from 0.1% in Islamabad to 3.8% in Balochistan. Conclusions: Plasmodium infections in Pakistan are largely attributed to P. vivax but P. falciparum and mixed species infections are also prevalent. In addition, regional variation in the prevalence and species composition of malaria is high. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Performance of monoculture and mixed cropping of non-traditional legumes with oats cereal was evaluated at National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad, Pakistan under rainfed conditions of Pothowar. Three nontraditional winter legumes i.e. common vetch (Vicia sativa L.), medics (Medicago polymorpha L.) and senji (Melilotus indica L.) were sown during first week of November, 2007 at recommended seed rates in pure stands and ratio of 50:50 of each in mixed cropping with oats (Avena sativa L.). The experiment was laid out in RCBD with three replications and plot size was 6 x 3 m2. Nitrogen fertilizer @ 80 kg and phosphorus @ 57 kg per hectare were incorporated in soil at the time of seedbed preparation. The results revealed that oats - vetch mixture produced 16 and 18 percent higher green fodder yield compared with oats - medics and oats - senji mixtures, respectively. In pure stands maximum green fodder yield was obtained from oats crop which was 51, 66 and 80 percent higher than vetch, medics and senji legumes, respectively. This increase in green fodder yield of oats cereal is the result of more efficient utilization of natural resources by Poaceae family plants than the Fabaceae family producing more tillers, number of leaves and plant height. The analysis of soil after final harvest showed more organic matter in vetch plots followed by oats - vetch mixture and lowest in pure oats crop. This showed opposite response of plants belonging to Poaceae and Fabaceae families indicating the need of mixed cropping of these plants to harvest the higher biomass and maintain soil fertility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]