Molecular Evidence of Malaria and Zoonotic Diseases Among Rapid Diagnostic Test-Negative Febrile Patients in Low-Transmission Season, Mali.
From November to December 2012 in Sélingué-Mali, blood samples from 88 febrile patients who tested negative by malaria Paracheck®rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) were used to assess the presence of sub-RDTPlasmodium falciparumas well asBorrelia,Coxiella burnetii, andBabesiaapplying molecular tools.Plasmodiumsp. was present among 57 (60.2%) of the 88 malaria RDT-negative patients, whereas the prevalence ofBorrelia,C. burnetii, andBabesiawere 3.4% (N= 3), 1.1% (N= 1), and 0.0%, respectively. The additional diagnostic use of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) identified a high proportion ofPlasmodiumsp.-positive samples and although this may be a concern for malaria control, the respective PCR-identified malaria infections were less likely responsible for the observed fevers given the low parasite density. Also, the low infection levels ofBorreliaandC. burnetiiand lack ofBabesiaamong the febrile patients call for further studies to assess the causes of fever among malaria RDT-negative patients in Sélingué.
Faculte de Medecine et d'Odontostomatologie, Universite des Sciences, Techniques et Technologies, Bamako, Mali. mah.toure@gmail.com.
Mahamoudou
M
Touré
Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Pelle T
PT
Petersen
Faculte de Medecine et d'Odontostomatologie, Universite des Sciences, Techniques et Technologies, Bamako, Mali.
Sidy N'd
SN
Bathily
Faculte de Medecine et d'Odontostomatologie, Universite des Sciences, Techniques et Technologies, Bamako, Mali.
Daouda
D
Sanogo
Centre for Medical Parasitology, Department of International Health, Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Christian W
CW
Wang
Department of International Health, Immunology and Microbiology, Copenhagen School of Global Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Karin L
KL
Schiøler
Department of International Health, Immunology and Microbiology, Copenhagen School of Global Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Flemming
F
Konradsen
Faculte de Medecine et d'Odontostomatologie, Universite des Sciences, Techniques et Technologies, Bamako, Mali.
Seydou
S
Doumbia
Centre for Medical Parasitology, Department of International Health, Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Michael
M
Alifrangis
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001404:Babesiosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001899:Borrelia Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000209:etiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D006801:Humans; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008302:Mali / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011778:Q Fever / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012621:Seasons; D055815:Young Adult; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*