A Highly Sensitive, Rapid, and Simple Polymerase Chain Reaction-Based Method to Detect Human Malaria (Plasmodium Falciparum and Plasmodium Vivax) in Blood Samples

Witoon Tirasophon Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, and Center for Molecular Genetics-Genetic Engineering, Institute of Science and Technology for Development, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand

Search for other papers by Witoon Tirasophon in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Piengchan Rajkulchai Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, and Center for Molecular Genetics-Genetic Engineering, Institute of Science and Technology for Development, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand

Search for other papers by Piengchan Rajkulchai in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Mathurose Ponglikitmongkol Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, and Center for Molecular Genetics-Genetic Engineering, Institute of Science and Technology for Development, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand

Search for other papers by Mathurose Ponglikitmongkol in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Prapon Wilairat Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, and Center for Molecular Genetics-Genetic Engineering, Institute of Science and Technology for Development, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand

Search for other papers by Prapon Wilairat in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Vichai Boonsaeng Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, and Center for Molecular Genetics-Genetic Engineering, Institute of Science and Technology for Development, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand

Search for other papers by Vichai Boonsaeng in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
, and
Sakol Panyim Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, and Center for Molecular Genetics-Genetic Engineering, Institute of Science and Technology for Development, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand

Search for other papers by Sakol Panyim in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.1994.51.308
Volume/Issue:
Volume 51: Issue 3
Page(s):
308–313
Restricted access
Get Permissions

A highly sensitive, rapid and simple method to detect human malaria in blood samples was developed. Malaria parasite DNA in blood from a fingerprick was directly amplified by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using two sets of primers to yield a 206-basepair (bp) product for Plasmodium falciparum and a 183-bp product for P. vivax. Both were easily visualized in an ethidium bromide-stained agarose gel, allowing identification of the two human malaria species in a single amplification reaction. As little as a one P. falciparum and/or P. vivax parasite per microliter of blood was detectable by this method, a sensitivity superior to that of thick blood film microscopy. The total time required for diagnosis of 48 blood samples, starting from fingerprick blood collection, was approximately 4 hr. When compared with microscopic examination by an expert microscopist, results showed a sensitivity of 89% for P. falciparum and 91% for P. vivax and an overall specificity of 94%. Six infected blood samples classified by microscopy as single species were diagnosed by the PCR method as being mixed P. falciparum and P. vivax infections. The high sensitivity, rapidity, and simplicity of the method should make it attractive for a large-scale epidemiology study, follow-up of drug treatment, and immunization trials.

Author Notes

Copyright:
Copyright © 1994 by The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 1994
Published Online:
Sep 1994
Cover The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Print ISSN:
0002-9637
Past two years Past Year Past 30 Days
Abstract Views 270 69 4
Full Text Views 11 2 0
PDF Downloads 11 4 0
 
Membership Banner
 
 
 
Affiliate Membership Banner
 
 
Research for Health Information Banner
 
 
CLOCKSS
 
 
 
Society Publishers Coalition Banner
Save