title: Efficiency of Nested-PCR in Detecting Asymptomatic Cases toward Malaria Elimination Program in an Endemic Area of Iran.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to detect low parasite and asymptomatic malaria infections by means of three malaria diagnostic tests, in a low transmission region of Minab district, Hormozgan Province, southern Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood samples of 200 healthy volunteers from Bagh-e-Malek area were evaluated using microscopic, rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) and nested-PCR to inspect malaria parasite.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed no Plasmodium parasite in subjects by means of microscopy and RDT. However, 3 P. vivax positive samples (1.5%) were discovered by Nested-PCR while microscopy and RDT missed the cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Microscopy as the gold standard method and RDT correctly identified 98.5% of cases, and molecular analysis is sensitive and reliable, especially in the detection of "asymptomatic" infections for active case surveillance. Regarding the existence of asymptomatic malaria in endemic area of Hormozgan, Iran, nested-PCR could be considered as a sensitive tool to interrupt malaria transmission in the country, beside the microscopic and RDT methods.
authors.affiliation: Infectious & Tropical diseases, Research Center Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran ; Molecular Medicine Research Center, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran.
authors.forename: Habibollah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Turki
authors.affiliation: National Programme Manager for Malaria Control, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Raeisi
authors.affiliation: Molecular Medicine Research Center, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran.
authors.forename: Kianoosh
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Malekzadeh
authors.affiliation: Social Determinants in Health Promotion Research Center, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar-Abbas, Iran.
authors.forename: Amin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ghanbarnejad
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Samaneh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zoghi
authors.affiliation: Infectious & Tropical diseases, Research Center Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran.
authors.forename: Masoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yeryan
authors.affiliation: Molecular Medicine Research Center, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran.
authors.forename: Masoumeh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abedi Nejad
authors.affiliation: Molecular Medicine Research Center, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran.
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mohseni
authors.affiliation: Molecular Medicine Research Center, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shekari
keywords: Asymptomatic malaria; Malaria elimination; Nested-PCR