Plasmodium vivax malaria in Mali: a study from three different regions

• Published in: Malaria Journal
• Main Authors: Bernabeu Maria, Gomez-Perez Gloria P, Sissoko Sibiri, Niambélé Mohamed B, Haibala Allassane Ag, Sanz Ariadna, Théra Mahamadou A, Fernandez-Becerra Carmen, Traoré Klénon, Alonso Pedro L, Bassat Quique, del Portillo Hernando A, Doumbo Ogobara
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2012
• Subjects: Mali; Sub-Saharan Africa; Plasmodium vivax; Vivax malaria; Nested-PCR; DNA sequencing; SSU RNA; Giemsa-smears; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Infectious and parasitic diseases; RC109-216; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2875-11-405; https://doaj.org/article/e7709b2123eb42d7afa148ffc5cbc85b

Abstract Background Plasmodium vivax has traditionally been considered virtually absent from Western and Central Africa, due to the absence of the Duffy blood group in most of the population living in these areas. Recent reports, however, suggest the circulation of P. vivax in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods Giemsa/Field-stained smears from febrile patients recruited in five different cities (Goundam, Tombouctou, Gao, Bourem and Kidal) pertaining to three regions from Northern Mali were examined. Nested-PCR and DNA sequence analyses of selected samples were performed to fully confirm the presence of P. vivax infections. Results Results demonstrated the presence of P. vivax infections in close to 30% of the cases as detected by Giemsa/Field-stained smears and nested-PCR and DNA-sequence analyses of selected samples unequivocally confirmed the presence of P. vivax . Conclusions The diagnostics of this human malaria parasite should be taken into account in the context of malaria control and elimination efforts, not only in Mali, but also in sub-Saharan Africa.