title: An investigation on the prevalence and efficiency of immunochromatographic testing in suspected malarial patients of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Pakistan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The prevalences of Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax are increasing rapidly in Pakistan, but recent data on the epidemiology of malaria are not properly reported with scarce diagnostic methods for quick diagnosis. This study was designed to determine the current prevalence and distribution of Plasmodium species in the vicinity of Rawalpindi and Islamabad and report on the validity of the immunochromatographic test (ICT) in diagnosing malarial infections.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 1500 blood samples obtained from a local hospital were screened during the course of this study via microscopic examination and ICT.
  
  
  RESULTS
  It was seen that malaria was highly endemic in this region. Both P. vivax and P. falciparum were prevalent in all age groups with high seasonal variations, showing a summer peak for P. vivax and a winter peak for P. falciparum. In a comparative study of the diagnostic methods it was observed that the ICT is 95% sensitive and 100% specific for both P. falciparum and P. vivax, while microscopic study was 100% sensitive and 96.8% specific.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Epidemiological study of the malarial parasites showed that majority of the patients were from Rawalpindi as compared to Islamabad and that P. vivax was the dominant cause of malarial infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Saima
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jabeen
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Dentistry, Islamabad Medical & Dental College, Islamabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Umair
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Farrukh
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Islamabad Medical & Dental College, Islamabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Shahzad Abdul
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Hameed
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Sobia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kanwal
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Mazhar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Qayyum
mesh_terms: D002846:Chromatography, Affinity; D006801:Humans; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum; D016780:Malaria, Vivax; D010154:Pakistan; D010966:Plasmodium vivax; D015995:Prevalence
keywords: Malaria; Plasmodium falciparum; Plasmodium vivax; immunochromatographic test