title: Comparison of thick films, in vitro culture and DNA hybridization probes for detecting Plasmodium falciparum malaria.
abstract: Using blood from volunteers with sporozoite induced malaria, a comparison was made of the sensitivity and specificity of Giemsa stained thick film examination, in vitro culture, and 4 different DNA probes for detecting parasitemia. Between 9 and 13 days after sporozoite inoculation, patent parasitemia (4-550 parasites/microliters) was detected by thick film examination of 0.5 microliters blood in 7 volunteers. Cultures of 1 ml blood obtained 7 days after sporozoite inoculation were positive in all volunteers who eventually developed patent parasitemia. The DNA hybridization probes detected parasites in only 5-28% of smear- or culture-positive samples.
authors.affiliation: Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Washington, DC 20307.
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Lanar
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: McLaughlin
authors.forename: D F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Wirth
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Barker
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Zolg
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Chulay
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001399:Azure Stains; D001769:Blood / Q000469:parasitology; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis*; D015342:DNA Probes; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D006801:Humans; D008288:Malaria / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D001399:Azure Stains; D015342:DNA Probes; D004247:DNA