Abstract
Background: Iran is currently striving to eliminate malaria; therefore, it is essential to advance the accurate and rapid diagnosis of suspected disease cases. The present study aims to investigate the effectiveness of the multiplex/semi-nested PCR method using specific primers for the precise diagnosis of human malaria species.
Methods: 72 blood samples from patients and suspected malaria cases were selected and stored in a -80°C freezer at the National Malaria Laboratory. DNA extraction was performed to obtain the genetic material necessary for further analysis, multiplex/semi-nested PCR was conducted, and the results were compared with microscopic examination.
Results: Out of 72 samples, 36 were positive through microscopic analysis. Diagnoses: 16 P.falciparum, 16 P.vivax, 1 P.ovale, 1 P.malariae, 1 mixed P.falciparum-P.vivax, and 1 mixed P.falciparum - P.malariae. 33 cases diagnosed through molecular analysis: 16 P.falciparum, 13 P.vivax, 1 P.ovale, 1 P.malariae, and 2 P.falciparum - P.vivax mix.
Conclusion: The issues of false positives, underreporting of mixed infections, and mismatched species identified by microscopic methods require attention and improvement to ensure accurate diagnoses.
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Copyright
© 2024, Author(s). This open-access article is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0) International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which allows for unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided that the original work is properly cited.