ArticleMalaria

Université nationale d'Asuncion (Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud)

Absence of asymptomatic cases of malaria in a historically endemic indigenous locality of the Department of Caaguazú, Paraguay: moving toward elimination

Barrios ED, Russomando G, Puerto FD

Rev Soc Bras Med Trop. 2016 Sep-Oct;49(5):637-640

Abstract

Introduction: Paraguay was among the 16 countries that reported zero indigenous malaria cases in 2014.

Methods: A cross-sectional observational descriptive study was performed in 100 adults from Santa Teresa, Paraguay. Parasite detection was carried out using seminested multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and microscopy.

Results: Among the participants, 44% were female and 56% were male, and 89% had a malaria history. No parasites were detected with either of the methods.

Conclusions: There were no asymptomatic cases in Santa Teresa, and this finding is very promising. A longitudinal study should be performed to confirm that there are no asymptomatic cases in this locality.

View article