polymerase chain reaction and histology in diagnosis of placental malaria in an area of unstable malaria transmission in central sudan聚合酶链反应和组织学诊断胎盘疟疾的地区不稳定在苏丹中部疟疾传播.pdf

Elbashir et al. Diagnostic Pathology 2011, 6:128 /content/6/1/128 RESEARCH Open Access Polymerase chain reaction and histology in diagnosis of placental malaria in an area of unstable malaria transmission in Central Sudan 1 2 3 4 1 Haggar M Elbashir , Magdi M Salih , Elhassan M Elhassan , Ahmed A Mohmmed , Mustafa I Elbashir and Ishag Adam1* Abstract Background: Prevalence of placental malaria has been widely used as a standard indicator to characterize malaria infection in epidemiologic surveys. Placental malaria poses a greater diagnostic challenge, accurate and sensitive diagnostic tool for malaria infections in pregnancy is needed. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted at Medani Hospital, which serves catchment area which is characterized by unstable malaria transmission. One hundred and seven placentae were investigated for malaria infection using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and histology. Results: out of 107 investigated placentae, 33 (30.8%) and 34 (31.8%) were positive for malaria by histology (two (2%) and 31(29.0%) were acute and past infections, respectively) and PCR, respectively. Out of 33 positive by histology, 15 were positive by the PCR while 18 were negative. The sensitivity of the PCR was 45.5% (95% CI: 29.2%- 62.5%). Out of 74 which were negative by histology, 19 were positive by the PCR. This is translated in specificity of 74.3% (95% CI: 63.5%- 83.3%). Of those tested positive by the PCR, 15 were positive by the histology, while 19 were negative. This is translated into a positive predictive value of 44.1% (95% CI: 28.3%- 61.0%). Of those 73 tested negative by the PCR, 55 were negative according to histology while 23 were positive.