In the ongoing battle against malaria, rapid diagnostic tests have become a crucial weapon. These affordable test strips have revolutionized the diagnosis process, providing quick results and enabling faster access to life-saving treatment. They have also enhanced surveillance efforts in remote rural areas, offering a clearer picture of the impact of this deadly mosquito-borne disease that claims the lives of approximately half a million people worldwide each year.
A concerning development is the emergence of mutations in Plasmodium falciparum that make the parasite undetectable by current rapid tests, leading to alarmingly high rates of false-negative results in some regions. While these mutations may not be widespread, there is a fear that they could be silently spreading, causing a significant number of undiagnosed cases and delaying treatment. Without the introduction of new testing methods, these mutations could pose a serious threat to global malaria eradication efforts.
“This is a major issue, comparable to drug and insecticide resistance,” explains Jane Carlton, a biologist and director of Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute. “The concerning aspect is that it appears to be spreading.”
The discovery of these mutations dates back to 2010 when researchers identified deletions in portions of the genes pfhrp2 and pfhrp3 in malaria parasites from patients in Peru. These genes are responsible for producing proteins that are typically detected by rapid tests. The mutations effectively shielded the parasites from detection by commonly used diagnostic tools.
2024-04-25 13:58:02
Originally published on www.sciencenews.org