Diagnosis of Malaria Infection using Three Diagnostic Techniques in Diary Villages Khartoum North State during the Period October 2015-February 2016

Abstract

Background:  Laboratory  diagnosis  of  malaria  is  currently  recommended for  the  confirmation  of  the  disease  before management.  The  two  most common  techniques  in  use  for the  diagnosis  of  malaria  parasite  in Sudan  are  Giemsa  stained smears  and  Rapid  diagnostic  tests(RDTs).  This study  was  carried   out  to  compare  microscopy  ( Giemsa  and  Acridine orange stain )  and  RDTs  as  effective  tools  for  the  diagnosis  of  malaria among  individuals  with  clinical  symptoms  attending  local primary  health care  center.

Methods:  Traditional  Giemsa  stained  thick  blood  films  were  compared with  Acridine  orange  fluorescence’s   techniques  and RDTs  for  the diagnosis  of  malaria  in  blood  smears  collected  from  symptomatic individual  in  new  malaria  area  of  Diary villages  of  Khartoum  North  state, Southern  Khartoum  Sudan.  The  information  of  clinical  symptoms  were collected  by  the clinician  using  structured  questionnaire. A total  of  432 subjects  were  examined  between  the period  of  October 2015-February 2016.  

Results:  Prevalence  rate  of  malaria  infection  was  not  significantly different between  sex  (P  =  0.06).  The  overall  positive cases were  found to  be  328(75.9%)  out  of  432.  The  commonly  affected  age  group  was found  among  children  aged  1-10  years old 164  (38%).  The  study  also revealed  predominance  of  Plasmodium  falciparum    malaria  227(73.9 among  all  the  positive  cases of  malaria.  Performance  of  the  three techniques Giemsa  stain,  Acridine  orange  stain  and  RDTs  showed positive  rate 139(42.9%),  266(81.1%)  and  306(93.6%)  respectively.

Conclusions:  The  study  concluded  that  P. falciparum  is  the  commonest species  in  the  area.  The acridine  orange  diagnostic technique is valuable alternative  method  that  can  be  used  specially  in  well equipped laboratories. Rapid  diagnostic tests   alone can’t  replace  Giemsa stain technique   but  when  used  with  other  techniques  can  be  with  better value.