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High prevalence of asymptomatic Plasmodium falciparum infection in Gabonese adults

High prevalence of asymptomatic Plasmodium falciparum infection in Gabonese adults

Authors :
Matthias P, Dal-Bianco
Kai B, Köster
Ulrich D, Kombila
Jürgen F J, Kun
Martin P, Grobusch
Ghyslain Mombo, Ngoma
Pierre B, Matsiegui
Christian, Supan
Carmen L Ospina, Salazar
Michel A, Missinou
Saadou, Issifou
Bertrand, Lell
Peter, Kremsner
Source :
The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene. 77(5)
Publication Year :
2007

Abstract

Plasmodium falciparum, the most common malarial parasite in sub-Saharan Africa, accounts for a high number of deaths in children less than five years of age. In malaria-endemic countries with stable transmission, semi-immunity is usually acquired after childhood. For adults, severe malaria is rare. Infected adults have either uncomplicated malaria or asymptomatic parasitemia. During a period of one year, we screened 497 afebrile males to investigate the prevalence of asymptomatic P. falciparum parasitemia in villages near Lambaréné, Gabon by use of three different methods. A total of 52% of the individuals had parasites detected by a subtelomeric variable open reading frame polymerase chain reaction (stevor-PCR), 27% of the rapid diagnostic test results were positive, and 12% of the thick blood smears with low parasitemias had P. falciparum. Most positive cases were only detected by the stevor-PCR. Asymptomatic P. falciparum parasitemia in adults living in a malaria-endemic country is frequent.

Details

ISSN :
14761645
Volume :
77
Issue :
5
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene
Accession number :
edsair.pmid..........72c2dec33a6c4928cf67488806aab83a