Comparison of thick films, in vitro culture and DNA hybridization probes for detecting Plasmodium falciparum malaria.
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.
Lanar
D E
DE
Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Washington, DC 20307.
McLaughlin
G L
GL
Wirth
D F
DF
Barker
R J
RJ
Zolg
J W
JW
Chulay
J D
JD
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*
D001399:Azure Stains; D015342:DNA Probes; D004247:DNA