Clin Lab. 2021 Oct 1;67(10). doi: 10.7754/Clin.Lab.2021.210208.
The imported cases of Plasmodium malariae (P. malariae) and Plasmodium ovale (P. ovale) malaria are increasing annually, especially in central China. Here, we report a case of serological rapid diagnostic test (RDT)-negative P. malariae malaria imported from West Africa.
The case patient was exclusively diagnosed with P. malariae through microscopy, Plasmodium genus-specific nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and sequencing of targeted P. malariae circumsporozoite (pmcsp) gene, except for serological RDT.
The patient was discharged in stable condition after 5 days of hospitalization, with no overt malaria parasites or associated symptoms.
This case reveals that asymptomatic P. malariae infections can occur among exported laborers back from malaria-endemic areas, some of whom may escape serological screening test or RDT, posing a continuing potential threat to malaria control. Therefore, PCR-based molecular techniques are more effective and necessary than serological RDT for malaria surveillance nationwide.
疟原虫恶性疟（P. malariae）和卵形疟原虫（P. ovale）的输入性病例每年都在增加，尤其是在中国中部地区。在此，我们报告一例从西非输入的血清学快速诊断检测（RDT）阴性恶性疟原虫疟疾。
除血清学 RDT 外，该病例患者仅通过显微镜检查、疟原虫属特异性巢式聚合酶链反应（PCR）和靶向恶性疟原虫环子孢子蛋白（pmcsp）基因测序进行诊断为恶性疟原虫感染。
患者经 5 天住院治疗后情况稳定出院，无明显疟原虫或相关症状。
本病例表明，来自疟疾流行地区的归国劳务人员可能发生无症状恶性疟原虫感染，其中一些人可能逃避血清学筛查检测或 RDT，对疟疾防控构成持续潜在威胁。因此，基于 PCR 的分子技术比血清学 RDT 更有效和必要，可用于全国性的疟疾监测。
