title: Diagnosis of an imported Plasmodium ovale wallikeri infection in Malaysia.
abstract: Plasmodium ovale is rare and not exactly known to be autochthonous in Malaysia. There are two distinct forms of the parasite, namely P. ovale curtisi (classic form) and P. ovale wallikeri (variant form). Here, the first sequence confirmed case of an imported P. ovale wallikeri infection in Malaysia is presented. Microscopy found Plasmodium parasites with morphology similar to P. ovale or Plasmodium vivax in the blood films. Further confirmation using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the small-subunit rRNA gene of the parasite was unsuccessful. Genus-specific PCR was then performed and the product was sequenced and analysed. Sequence analyses confirmed the aetiological agent as P. ovale wallikeri. New species-specific primers (rOVA1v and rOVA2v) were employed and P. ovale wallikeri was finally confirmed. The findings highlight the need to look out for imported malaria infections in Malaysia and the importance of a constantly updated and validated diagnostic technique.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. jon_wkent@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Jonathan Wee Kent
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Liew
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. rohela@ummc.edu.my.
authors.forename: Rohela
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mahmud
authors.affiliation: Sunway Medical Centre, Bandar Sunway, 46150, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia. hutan07@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Lian Huat
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. lauyeeling@um.edu.my.
authors.forename: Yee Ling
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Lau
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008288:Malaria / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008296:Malaysia; D008297:Male; D041122:Plasmodium ovale / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016053:RNA, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D016053:RNA, Protozoan