Management of Plasmodium knowlesi malaria without PCR confirmation

Abstract

Plasmodium knoivlesi morphologically resembles P. malariae; PCR assays are able to differentiate between the 2 species correctly. However, PCR is not available in many hospitals in P. knoivlesi endemic areas, particularly in Southeast Asia. In places where PCR is not available, anti-malarial drugs for P. malariae or other non-P. falciparum or P. falciparum species are effective against P. knoivlesi. Even with a wrong diagnosis of another malaria species by light microscopy instead of P. knoivlesi, the antimalarial drugs given are still effective for treating P. knoivlesi infection.