Dados do Trabalho

Título

Prevalence of Plasmodium species and occurrence of the first case of P. malariae in Rondônia

Introdução

Malaria is an infectious disease caused by the Plasmodium parasite. In Brazil, the species that infect humans are P. vivax, P. falciparum, and P. malariae. Despite efforts to control the disease, the country still has a high number of cases, particularly in the North region. According to the Epidemiological Surveillance Investigation System (SIVEP), in the year 2022, 128,077 cases of malaria were reported in Brazil, with 3.04% (39/128,077) attributed to P. malariae infection. In Rondônia, 12,457 cases of malaria were reported, with 95% (11,834/12,457) caused by P. vivax, 4.2% (527/12,457) by P. falciparum, and 0.8% (96/12,457) being mixed infections of P. vivax and P. falciparum.

Objetivo (s)

To investigate the occurrence and prevalence of Plasmodium species in patients with fever symptoms in Porto Velho, Rondônia.

Material e Métodos

The 558 participants included in this study were attended at the Center for Tropical Medicine Research of Rondônia (CEPEM-RO) between July and September 2022, presenting fever symptoms. This study was approved by the CONEP CEP system under the protocol number CAAE 52853021.6.0000.0011. Plasmodium species detection was performed through thick blood smear microscopy and molecular qPCR tests using the IBMP/Fiocruz malaria kit.

Resultados e Conclusão

Malaria diagnosis by thick blood smear microscopy was observed in 45,5% (254/558) of the study population, with 90,6% (230/254) attributed to Plasmodium vivax and 9,4% (24/254) to Plasmodium falciparum. Using the qPCR technique, was observed a positivity rate of 48,4% for malaria (270/558), with 89,6% (242/270) attributed to P. vivax, 9,6% (26/270) to P. falciparum, and 0,4% (1/270) to P. malariae. Among these positive cases, it was possible to detect a mixed infection, 0.4% (1/270), between P. vivax and P. falciparum. The patient with a positive diagnosis for P. vivax in the microscopy examination was treated accordingly. This study reports high malaria endemicity in the region and represents the first record of P. malariae circulation in the state of Rondônia. These findings highlight the need to intensify malaria eradication efforts in Brazil by expanding the use of high-performance rapid tests and more accurate molecular techniques for diagnosis and appropriate treatment of malaria.

Palavras-chave

Malaria. Plasmodium malariae. qPCR. Rondônia.