Malaria Journal
Volume 17, Issue 1, 2018

Study of the diagnostic accuracy of microbiological techniques in the diagnosis of malaria in the immigrant population in Madrid (Article) (Open Access)

Martín-Díaz A. , Rubio J.M. , Herrero-Martínez J.M. , Lizasoain M. , Ruiz-Giardin J.M. , Jaqueti J. , Cuadros J. , Rojo-Marcos G. , Martín-Rabadán P. , Calderón M. , Campelo C. , Velasco M. , Pérez-Ayala A.*
  • a Department of Clinical Microbiology, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Avenida de Córdoba, s/n, Madrid, 28041, Spain
  • b Malaria and Emerging Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Parasitology Department, National Microbiology Centre, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
  • c Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases Department, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain
  • d Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases Department, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain
  • e University Hospital of Fuenlabrada, Madrid, Spain
  • f University Hospital of Fuenlabrada, Madrid, Spain
  • g University Hospital Príncipe de Asturias, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
  • h University Hospital Príncipe de Asturias, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
  • i University Hospital Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain
  • j University Hospital Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain
  • k University Hospital Fundación Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain
  • l University Hospital Fundación Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain
  • m Department of Clinical Microbiology, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Avenida de Córdoba, s/n, Madrid, 28041, Spain

Abstract

Background: Malaria is currently the most important human parasitic disease in the world responsible for high morbidity and mortality. Appropriate diagnostic methods are essential for early detection. Microscopy examination remains the gold standard, although molecular techniques have higher sensitivity and are very useful in cases of low parasitaemia and mixed infections. The objective of this study was to evaluate a new commercial molecular diagnostic technique. Methods: A prospective, observational, multicentre study was performed between January 2015 and April 2017. All participants were immigrants from malaria-endemic areas, who were divided into two groups: asymptomatic group and symptomatic. Samples from both groups were evaluated by a rapid diagnostic test (ImmunoQuick® Malaria + 4 RDT), microscopy examination, and two commercial molecular malaria tests (FTD Malaria and FTD Malaria Differentiation), then compared against an in-house reference PCR technique. Results: In all, 250 patients were included: 164 (65.6%) in the asymptomatic group, and 86 (34.4%) in the symptomatic group. There were seven cases of asymptomatic parasitaemia (prevalence = 2.8%) that were detected only by molecular methods. In the symptomatic group, there were seven cases of submicroscopic malaria. The main species detected was Plasmodium falciparum (96.6%). The commercial molecular technique had higher sensitivity than the other methods (S = 96%) and a high rate of concordance with the in-house reference PCR technique (Kappa score = 0.93). Conclusions: The molecular techniques, although slower than microscopy, have adequate diagnostic accuracy and are very useful for the detection of P. falciparum in cases with low parasitaemia. © 2018 The Author(s).

Author Keywords

Malaria diagnosis Submicroscopic parasitaemia PCR Plasmodium

Index Keywords

parasitology prospective study immigrant multicenter study clinical trial predictive value Prospective Studies human middle aged diagnostic accuracy Malaria comparative study Aged nonhuman procedures Young Adult Humans migrant Emigrants and Immigrants Spain Aged, 80 and over very elderly Cities observational study diagnostic test diagnostic test accuracy study polymerase chain reaction prevalence isolation and purification sensitivity and specificity Article Diagnostic Tests, Routine city Parasitemia major clinical study adult Plasmodium vivax Malaria, Vivax Molecular Diagnostic Techniques microbiological examination microscopy Predictive Value of Tests Plasmodium vivax malaria Malaria, Falciparum malaria falciparum molecular diagnosis Plasmodium falciparum asymptomatic disease
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85052745867&doi=10.1186%2fs12936-018-2459-2&partnerID=40&md5=799a9dbc754bf5477b50b66842ad1922
DOI: 10.1186/s12936-018-2459-2
ISSN: 14752875
Cited by: 4
Original Language: English