Evaluating of Plasmodium species isolated from peripheral blood samples in a non-endemic region

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Malaria is a parasitic disease, caused by Plasmodium species, which transmitted to humans through genus Anopheles mosquitoes. This disease widely spreaded in tropical and subtropical areas. The aim of our study is to evaluate malaria cases diagnosed by peripheral blood examination.METHODS: Peripheral blood samples sent to Parasitology Laboratory between 2001 and 2013 years, were examined using thick and thin blood smear techniques.RESULTS: A total of 102 blood samples obtained from suspected patients were examined and eight of them were found to be positive. All cases were male and Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax was detected in seven (87.5%) and one (12.5%) of them, respectively. Blood samples were mainly sent from Departments of Infectious Diseases. All P. falciparum cases had a history about work or travel to different African countries.CONCLUSION: We think that patients who has fever and travel history to endemic countries especially in Africa, blood examination for malaria parasites should be taken into account in differential diagnosis.