Comparison of three molecular methods for the detection and speciation of five human Plasmodium species.
In this study, three molecular assays (real-time multiplex polymerase chain reaction [PCR], merozoite surface antigen gene [MSP]-multiplex PCR, and the PlasmoNex Multiplex PCR Kit) have been developed for diagnosis of Plasmodium species. In total, 52 microscopy-positive and 20 malaria-negative samples were used in this study. We found that real-time multiplex PCR was the most sensitive for detecting P. falciparum and P. knowlesi. The MSP-multiplex PCR assay and the PlasmoNex Multiplex PCR Kit were equally sensitive for diagnosing P. knowlesi infection, whereas the PlasmoNex Multiplex PCR Kit and real-time multiplex PCR showed similar sensitivity for detecting P. vivax. The three molecular assays displayed 100% specificity for detecting malaria samples. We observed no significant differences between MSP-multiplex PCR and the PlasmoNex multiplex PCR kit (McNemar's test: P = 0.1489). However, significant differences were observed comparing real-time multiplex PCR with the PlasmoNex Multiplex PCR Kit (McNemar's test: P = 0.0044) or real-time multiplex PCR with MSP-multiplex PCR (McNemar's test: P = 0.0012).
Tropical Infectious Disease Research and Education Center (TIDREC), Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia lauyeeling@um.edu.my.
Yee Ling
YL
Lau
Tropical Infectious Disease Research and Education Center (TIDREC), Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Meng Yee
MY
Lai
Tropical Infectious Disease Research and Education Center (TIDREC), Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Claudia N
CN
Anthony
Tropical Infectious Disease Research and Education Center (TIDREC), Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Phooi Yee
PY
Chang
Tropical Infectious Disease Research and Education Center (TIDREC), Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Vanitha
V
Palaeya
Tropical Infectious Disease Research and Education Center (TIDREC), Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Mun Yik
MY
Fong
Tropical Infectious Disease Research and Education Center (TIDREC), Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Rohela
R
Mahmud
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers; D006801:Humans; D060885:Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction; D010961:Plasmodium / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D017931:DNA Primers