Asymptomatic Malaria in School Children and Evaluation of the Performance Characteristics of the Partec CyscopeHelen Kuokuo Kimbi, in the Mount Cameroon Region

Abstract

The key to the effective management of malaria is prompt and accurate diagnosis followed by effective treatment. The aim of this study was to determine asymptomatic malaria parasite prevalence and density and evaluate the performance characteristics of the Partec CyScope ® (fluorescent microscope) in school children in the Mount Cameroon region using light microscopy as a gold standard. A total of 541 pupils aged 4 -16 years were recruited into the study. After recording demographic data on each child, capillary blood was collected for the preparation of thin and thick blood films for the assessment of parasite density and speciation respectively. Five µl of blood was placed on the dye-labeled portion of the slide, cover-slipped, incubated for 1 minute and observed under the CyScope ® for parasites. Performance characteristics of CyScope ® were calculated. The overall prevalence of malaria was 64.0% and 58.4% for light microscopy and Partec CyScope ® respectively. The overall geometric mean parasite density (GMPD) was 2255.22 (range 320-35040). The sensitivity of the test was 91.3% while the specificity was 86.7%. The Partec CyScope ® showed a relatively high sensitivity and specificity in diagnosing malaria in school children and could therefore be used in mass surveillance programmes for the management and control of malaria.

Comparison of the Partec CyScope® Rapid Diagnostic Test with Light Microscopy for Malaria Diagnosis in Rural Tole, Southwest Cameroon

“…WHO stipulates a minimal standard of 95% for P. falciparum sensitivity and specificity [2]. The sensitivity and specificity of Partec CyScope ® used in the study falls slightly below the standards set by WHO but are however both greater than 80% and similar to those of Hassan et al [33] and Kimbi et al [11]. Nkrumah et al [9] in Ghana recorded higher performance characteristics with sensitivities of 100% and specificities of 97.4% for Partec CyScope ® .…”

“…Such tests provide results in 2 to 15 minutes. Two RDTs are most widely used in Cameroon -the 'CareStart TM Malaria HRP2 pf [10], and the Partec CyScope ® [11].…”

“…The use of RDT does not completely eliminate the need for malaria light microscopy because there are risks of obtaining false-negative RDT results [13]. Kimbi et al [11] reported a sensitivity of >80% for Partec CyScope ® in a semi urban area in the Mount Cameroon region, Muea. As time goes on improvements in RDTs could lead to improved performance, necessitating an assessment of performance characteristics for each RDT over time and in different settings.…”

Epidemiology of Malaria Using LED Fluorescence Microscopy among Schoolchildren in Douala, Cameroon

“…The authors of this study reported sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of 61.8%, 98%, 95.7% and 63.9% respectively against 62.2%, 96%, 95.7% and 63.9% for Giemsa-based method [12]. Besides, fluorescence microscopy is increasingly accepted and used in Cameroon by some researchers [14,15]. This study is aimed at accessing the prevalence and factors associated with malaria, and determining the prevalence of asymptomatic carriage of malaria parasites and fevers of non malarial origin using Light Emitting Diodes (LED) Cyscope fluorescence microscopy.…”

“…Children were recruited on a convenient approach in each school through random sampling method. Based on a malaria prevalence of 58.4% with fluorescence microscopy as reported by Kimbi et al [14], the sample size was determined using the Lorentz's formula n = Z 2 pq/d 2 where n = the required sample size, Z=statistic for the desired confidence level (1.96 for 95% confidence level), p = assumed malaria prevalence in schoolchildren, q = 1-p: proportion of malaria negative participants and d = accepted margin of error (5%). The minimum sample size was estimated as n=373.…”