Detection of submicroscopic infection with Plasmodium spp., using classical and molecular techniques in pregnant patients from Córdoba, Colombia

Introduction: Gestational malaria affects both the mother and the development of her embryo or fetus. Rapid diagnosis and timely and effective treatment are required to prevent complications and deaths. Objective: To compare thick blood smear with nested PCR and real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) for the diagnosis of submicroscopic infections with Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax. Methodology: 21 women with clinical manifestations of malaria, including both pregnant and non-pregnant, were studied in Puerto Libertador, Córdoba, Colombia. Peripheral blood specimens were obtained from all of them; umbilical cord and placenta blood specimens were taken in the pregnant ones. DNA was extracted and amplified for nested PCR or qRT-PCR. Statistical analysis was done using Graphpad PRISM and EPIDAT softwares. Results: The three techniques were satisfactory for the detection of Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax in peripheral blood and in the umbilical cord and placenta specimens. Molecular tests were 100% sensitive and specific. Two submicroscopic cases of P. falciparum infection were detected with the two PCR techniques. Conclusion: qRT-PCR is advantageous over nested PCR because its standardization is shorter, it requires lesser infrastructure and it allows the quantification of DNA.

• Autores: Blanquiceth Y.P.; Murillo Gomez, Oscar; Maestre A.E.; Corredor M.
• Tipo de recurso: Article of journal
• Fecha de publicación: 2014
• Institución: Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia
• Repositorio: Repositorio UCC
• OAI Identifier: oai:repository.ucc.edu.co:20.500.12494/42688
• Acceso en línea: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84903203158&partnerID=40&md5=04abf1a520b9ab82b4fc008d5ac4eec6; https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12494/42688
• Palabra clave: article; blood; blood smear; clinical article; Colombia; diagnostic test accuracy study; DNA extraction; female; gestational malaria; human; malaria; microorganism detection; molecular diagnosis; nested polymerase chain reaction; nonhuman; placenta blood; Plasmodium falciparum; Plasmodium vivax; polymerase chain reaction; pregnant woman; real time polymerase chain reaction; sensitivity and specificity; umbilical cord blood
• Rights: closedAccess
• License: http://purl.org/coar/access_right/c_14cb