What is the explanation for Plasmodium vivax malarial recurrence? Experience of Parasitology Unit of Kinshasa University Hospital of 1982-1983 and 2000-2009
Authors: Tshima Guyguy Kabundi 
Published: February 2019

Context and Objectives

Microscopy is needed for a study involving the surveillance data of a species like P. vivax, the most widespread in Asia and almost non-existent species in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The use of microscopy and rapid diagnostics tests (RDTs) approaches are recommended for malaria test. Considering the advantages and disadvantages of the two, microscopy is more suitable for effective identification of presence of malaria parasites for the surveillance data of P. vivax and other species. Rapid diagnostics tests fit better for P. falciparum. This study aimed to revise between the Microscopy and RDTs, which is better for used in city than in rural settings for the surveillance of Plasmodium vivax malarial recurrence in malaria-endemic areas and why?

Methods

It is a descriptive study of 19,746 laboratory data. The variables wanted were a positive thick drop and a thin smear with the plasmodial species. The analyzes were carried out based on prevalences and the software R was used to generate the figures. The standard threshold of statistical significance was set at 0.05. The ethics committee of the Department of Tropical Medicine approved this study. We were using microscopes as our diagnostic tools for malaria surveillance data in the Parasitology Unit. RDTs are the quickest way to detect and diagnose malaria. It is something that could be easily operated. It can be home-based for everyone depending his understand the principles of how it works. It is also effective and time management. Therefore, this can be used in rural areas because it will be fast to attend to many people. But it has its own limitations because of the differentiation of species. And it not detects P. vivax, P. ovale and P. malariae.

Results

From 100% malaria-positive samples, 98.83% were positive for P. falciparum, 0.88% were positive for P. malariae, 0.063% were positive for P. ovale, 0.01% was positive for P. vivax. There were co-infections P. falciparum-P. malariae representing 0.2%. November 2001 had the high number of positive samples.

Conclusions

P. vivax at 0.01% highlights that it is an unknown species in the DRC. P. malariae at 1% advances our understanding of microscopy utility in the diagnosis of renal failure. P. falciparum at 98.83% highlights that it remains the most prevalent species. Efforts for malaria control should be focus on the rain months. Microscopes are effective. Depending on the accurate functionality of the tool and the expertise skill of the technician or scientist. Disadvantages are the facts that it is time consuming. And demands high intellectual understanding of the use of microscopy. Not everyone could operate a microscope. Before you view under the microscope you must prepare the slide and stain to be able to view. All these are long processes. Therefore, microscopy may have lower opportunity to be used in a rural area because of the complexity, the population and time. Microscopy has advantages to be important to use in rural areas because of its accuracy and the ability to detect Plasmodiums species than the RDTs.