M. Adachi et al., Detection of congenital malaria by polymerase-chain-reaction methodology in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, PARASIT RES, 86(8), 2000, pp. 615-618
The examination of congenital malaria was performed by Giemsa staining and
polymerase-chain-reaction (PCR) methodology. We randomly selected 298 neona
tes who had been admitted to Muhimbili Medical Center (MMC) at Dar es Salaa
m, Tanzania. One baby among all the enrolled neonates was recognized as hav
ing a congenital malaria infection, which gave a prevalence of 0.33%. The p
resent result was 5-fold the clinically recognized prevalence of congenital
infection with malaria in the ward. The PCR method identified two cases, o
ne of which was negative as determined by the Giemsa-staining method. There
fore, the PCR method was useful for the detection of scant amounts of malar
ial parasites in numerous blood samples. The screening of malaria by a sens
itive PCR method contributes to reduce the mortality of asymptotic neonates
in particular.