Emergence of Undetectable Malaria Parasites: A Threat under the Radar amid the COVID-19 Pandemic?

Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) play a critical role in malaria diagnosis and control. The emergence of Plasmodium falciparum parasites that can evade detection by RDTs threatens control and elimination efforts. These parasites lack or have altered genes encoding histidine-rich proteins (HRPs) 2 and 3...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Beshir, Khalid B., Grignard, Lynn, Hajissa, Khalid, Mohammed, Abdulrahman, Nurhussein, Awolkhier M., Ishengoma, Deus S., Lubis, Inke Nadia D., Drakeley, Chris J., Sutherland, Colin J.
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 2020
Materias:
Perspective Piece
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7410463/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32553046
http://dx.doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.20-0467
Descripción
Sumario:Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) play a critical role in malaria diagnosis and control. The emergence of Plasmodium falciparum parasites that can evade detection by RDTs threatens control and elimination efforts. These parasites lack or have altered genes encoding histidine-rich proteins (HRPs) 2 and 3, the antigens recognized by HRP2-based RDTs. Surveillance of such parasites is dependent on identifying false-negative RDT results among suspected malaria cases, a task made more challenging during the current pandemic because of the overlap of symptoms between malaria and COVID-19, particularly in areas of low malaria transmission. Here, we share our perspective on the emergence of P. falciparum parasites lacking HRP2 and HRP3, and the surveillance needed to identify them amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

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