Korean J Parasitol.  2016 Aug;54(4):407-414. 10.3347/kjp.2016.54.4.407.

Characteristics of Imported Malaria and Species of Plasmodium Involved in Shandong Province, China (2012-2014)

• Xu C
• Wei QK
• Li J
• Xiao T
• Yin K
• Zhao CL
• Wang YB
• Kong XL
• Zhao GH
• Sun H
• Liu X
• Huang BC

• KMID: 2353569
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3347/kjp.2016.54.4.407

Abstract

Malaria remains a serious public health problem in Shandong Province, China; therefore, it is important to explore the characteristics of the current malaria prevalence situation in the province. In this study, data of malaria cases reported in Shandong during 2012-2014 were analyzed, and Plasmodium species were confirmed by smear microscopy and nested-PCR. A total of 374 malaria cases were reported, 80.8% of which were reported from 6 prefectures. Of all cases, P. falciparum was dominant (81.3%), followed by P. vivax (11.8%); P. ovale and P. malariae together accounted for 6.4% of cases. Notably, for the first time since 2012, no indigenous case had been reported in Shandong Province, a situation that continued through 2014. Total 95.2% of cases were imported from Africa. The ratio of male/female was 92.5:1, and 96.8% of cases occurred in people 20-54 years of age. Farmers or laborers represented 77.5% of cases. No significant trends of monthly pattern were found in the reported cases. All patients were in good condition after treatment, except for 3 who died. These results indicate that imported malaria has increased significantly since 2012 in Shandong Province, especially for P. falciparum, and there is an emergence of species diversity.

Keyword

Plasmodium falciparum; Plasmodium vivax; Plasmodium malariae; Plasmodium ovale; imported malaria; microscopy; nested-PCR; China

MeSH Terms

Africa
China*
Farmers
Humans
Malaria*
Microscopy
Plasmodium falciparum
Plasmodium malariae
Plasmodium ovale
Plasmodium vivax
Plasmodium*
Prevalence
Public Health