Identification of Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum in the Northern areas (District Malakand) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Authors

  • Muhammad Imran Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University Hangzhou China; Deparment of Biotechnology, University of Malakand, Malakand, Pakistan.
  • Irshad Ahmad Biology Department, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM), 31261, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.
  • Muhammad Kalim Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University Hangzhou China; Department of Genetics, Hazara University Mansehra, Mansehra, Pakistan.

Keywords:

Malarial infection, Plasmodium vivax and P. falciparum, rural areas, Malakand.

Abstract

The current study was designed to investigate the occurrence of malarial infections in the Northern areas (District Malakand) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Malarial parasites were detected in the blood samples of suspected patients of the infection. Out of 210 suspected cases of malaria, 47 (22.38%) were found to be positive for the malarial parasite in blood smear slides. Out of positive cases, 28 (59.57%) were identified as Plasmodium vivax infection and 19 (40.42%) cases with P. falciparum. No case was found having both the malarial parasites. This research work evidenced that P. falciparum and Plasmodium vivax are steadily becoming more dangerous and deadly in rural areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in general, and particularly in District Malakand. It is therefore highly necessary to take immediate and effective measures to minimize death toll in these areas.

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Published

2017-11-02

How to Cite

Imran, M., Ahmad, I., & Kalim, M. (2017). Identification of Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum in the Northern areas (District Malakand) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. PSM Microbiology, 2(3), 59–62. Retrieved from https://psmjournals.org/index.php/microbiol/article/view/138

Issue

Vol. 2 No. 3 (2017)

Section

Short Communications

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