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Journal of Transmitted Diseases and Immunity
ISSN: 2573-0320
Page 29
Volume 4
May 10-11, 2018
Frankfurt, Germany
Immunology Research 2018
Tissue Science 2018
JOINT EVENT
2 2
n d
E d i t i o n o f I n t e r n a t i o n a l C o n f e r e n c e o n
Immunology and
Evolution of Infectious Diseases
&
1 2
t h
E d i t i o n o f I n t e r n a t i o n a l C o n f e r e n c e o n
Tissue Engineering and
Regenerative Medicine
T
he rapid clearance of malaria parasite DNA from
circulation has widely been accepted as a fact without
being systemically investigated. In this longitudinal study,
we examined the duration of PCR positivity as well as the
presence of gametocytes in adult travelers treated for
Plasmodium falciparum
malaria in a malaria-free setting,
using microscopy, species-specific qPCR, merozoite surface
protein 2 (msp2)-genotyping PCR, and gametocyte-specific
qPCR. Venous blood was collected at the time of admission
and prospectively up to one year. Patients were treated with
a full regimen of six doses of artemether-lumefantrine (AL).
In 31 successfully treated individuals, asexual parasites were
seen by microscopy until two days after treatment, whereas
parasite DNA was detected by msp2- and species-specific
PCR up to days 31 and 42, respectively. Statistical modelling
predicted 26% (± 0•05 SE) species-specific PCR positivity until
day 40 and estimated 48 days for all samples to become PCR
negative. Gametocytes were detected by microscopy and PCR
latest two days after treatment. CT values correlated well with
microscopy-defined parasite densities before but not after
treatment started. Duration of PCR positivity was correlated
neither with the initial (asexual) parasite densities nor with
the initial presence of gametocytes.These results reveal
that PCR positivity can persist several weeks after treatment
without evidence of viable sexual or asexual parasites, and
that the removal of dead parasites and their debris is not as
rapid as it is believed, indicating that PCR may overestimate
post-treatment parasite prevalence in epidemiological studies,
and underestimate drug efficiency in clinical management and
trials. This report underlines an important diagnostic matter
essentially in infectious diseases and particularly in malaria,
and points out the need for detection tool as sensitive as PCR
and as accurate as microscopy
Biography
She holds a BSc. in microbiology and PhD in immunology and has about 17
years of research experience in infectious diseases and vaccines. Her re-
search path started as research assistant at Pasteur Institute of Iran, where
she was involved in recombinant vaccine studies against Leishmania major,
and assisted the group leader to establish and run the “Molecular Immunol-
ogy and Vaccine lab”. She fulfilled her PhD studies at Stockholm University
on the general topic of “Human genetic factors involved in immunity to ma-
laria”, while contributing to allergy studies as well. As Postdoctoral research-
er and Assistant Professor her research focus turned towards genetic diver-
sity of malaria parasite in relation to transmission intensity and prospective
studies of malaria in travelers. Years of engagement with tropical diseases
provided her with experience of filed study as well as broad collaborative
network. Beside academic education, she schooled for ICH-GCP, Pharma-
covigilance-Drug Safety, GMP, and coaching-leadership.
manijehvafa@gmail.comDetection of malaria parasites after treatment in travelers:
A 12-months longitudinal study and statistical modelling
analysis
Manijeh Vafa Homann
Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
Manijeh Vafa Homann, J Transm Dis Immun 2018, Volume 2
DOI: 10.21767/2573-0320-C2-005