Publication: Differential prevalence of plasmodium infections and cryptic plasmodium knowlesi malaria in humans in Thailand
Issued Date
2009-04-15
Resource Type
ISSN
00221899
DOI
Other identifier(s)
2-s2.0-65649123388
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Mahidol University
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SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Journal of Infectious Diseases. Vol.199, No.8 (2009), 1143-1150
Suggested Citation
Chaturong Putaporntip, Thongchai Hongsrimuang, Sunee Seethamchai, Teerayot Kobasa, Kriengsak Limkittikul, Liwang Cui, Somchai Jongwutiwes Differential prevalence of plasmodium infections and cryptic plasmodium knowlesi malaria in humans in Thailand. Journal of Infectious Diseases. Vol.199, No.8 (2009), 1143-1150. doi:10.1086/597414 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/28115
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Title
Differential prevalence of plasmodium infections and cryptic plasmodium knowlesi malaria in humans in Thailand
Abstract
Background. A case of human infection with Plasmodium knowlesi has been recently discovered in Thailand. To investigate the prevalence of this malaria species, a molecular-based survey was performed. Methods. Blood samples from 1874 patients were tested for Plasmodium species by microscopy and nested polymerase chain reaction. P. knowlesi was characterized by sequencing the merozoite surface protein 1 gene (msp-1). Results. Of all Plasmodium species identified, P. falciparum, P. vivax, P. malariae, P. ovale, and P. knowlesi contributed 43.52%, 68.08%, 1.37%, 1.03%, and 0.57%, respectively. Mixed-species infections were more common in northwestern and southwestern regions bordering Myanmar (23%-24%) than in eastern and southern areas (3%- 5%). In northwestern and southwestern regions, mixed-species infections had a significantly higher prevalence in dry than in rainy seasons (P < .001). P. knowlesi was found in 10 patients, mostly from southern and southwestern areas-9 were coinfected with either P. falciparum or P. vivax. Most of the P. knowlesi Thai isolates were more closely related to isolates from macaques than to isolates from Sarawak patients. The msp-1 sequences of isolates from the same area of endemicity differed and possessed novel sequences, indicating genetic polymorphism in P. knowlesi infecting humans. Conclusions. This survey highlights the widespread distribution of P. knowlesi in Thailand, albeit at low prevalence and mostly occurring as cryptic infections. © 2009 by the Infectious Diseases Society of America.