Korean J Parasitol.  2015 Oct;53(5):575-581. 10.3347/kjp.2015.53.5.575.

Plasmodium knowlesi as a Threat to Global Public Health

• Wesolowski R
• Wozniak A
• Mila-Kierzenkowska C
• Szewczyk-Golec K

• KMID: 2381780
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3347/kjp.2015.53.5.575

Abstract

Malaria is a tropical disease caused by protozoans of the Plasmodium genus. Delayed diagnosis and misdiagnosis are strongly associated with higher mortality. In recent years, a greater importance is attributed to Plasmodium knowlesi, a species found mainly in Southeast Asia. Routine parasitological diagnostics are associated with certain limitations and difficulties in unambiguous determination of the parasite species based only on microscopic image. Recently, molecular techniques have been increasingly used for predictive diagnosis. The aim of the study is to draw attention to the risk of travelling to knowlesi malaria endemic areas and to raise awareness among personnel involved in the therapeutic process.

Keyword

Plasmodium knowlesi; malaria; human; Southeast Asia

MeSH Terms

Asia, Southeastern
Global Health
Humans
Malaria/diagnosis/*epidemiology/*parasitology
Microscopy/methods
Molecular Diagnostic Techniques/methods
Plasmodium knowlesi/*isolation & purification
Public Health