A survey of asymptomatic children in Uganda showed Plasmodium malariae and P. falciparum parasites in 45% and 55% of microscopy-positive samples, respectively. Although 36% of microscopy-positive samples were negative by rapid diagnostic test, 75% showed P. malariae or P. ovale parasites by PCR, indicating that routine diagnostic testing misses many non-P. falciparum malarial infections.
Keywords: Africa; PCR; Plasmodium; Uganda; asymptomatic infections; children; malaria; microscopy; mosquito nets; mosquitoes; parasite; parasitic diseases; protozoan infections.