Comparison of PCR-based detection of Plasmodium falciparum infections based on single and multicopy genes

Abstract PCR-based assays are the most sensitive and specific methods to detect malaria parasites. This study compared the diagnostic accuracy of three PCR-based assays that do not only differ in their sequence target, but also in the number of copies of their target region, for the detection of Pla...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Published in:Malaria Journal
Main Authors: Kendjo Eric, Monday Gamaliel C, Awobode Henrietta O, Oyedeji Segun I, Kremsner Peter G, Kun Jürgen F
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: BMC 2007
Subjects:
Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine
RC955-962
Infectious and parasitic diseases
RC109-216
Arctic
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2875-6-112
https://doaj.org/article/cc87f629607849efa8dcd58830858cab
Description
Summary:Abstract PCR-based assays are the most sensitive and specific methods to detect malaria parasites. This study compared the diagnostic accuracy of three PCR-based assays that do not only differ in their sequence target, but also in the number of copies of their target region, for the detection of Plasmodium falciparum in 401 individuals living in a malaria-endemic area in Nigeria. Compared to a composite reference generated from results of all the 3 PCR assays, the stevor gene amplification had a sensitivity of 100% ( Kappa = 1; 95% CI = 1.000–1.000), 83% ( Kappa = 0.718; 95% CI = 0.648–0.788) by SSUrRNA gene PCR and 71% ( Kappa = 0.552; 95% CI = 0.478–0.627) by the msa - 2 gene amplification. Results from this study indicate that the stevor gene amplification is the most sensitive technique for the detection of P. falciparum . This assay may be an important reference standard, especially when a confirmatory technique with high sensitivity and specificity is needed for ruling out P. falciparum infection.

Similar Items