[Laboratory analysis and diagnosis of one transfusion-transmitted quartan malaria case in Shanghai City]

To diagnose a case of quartan malaria with unknown origin by laboratory detection.

The clinical data of the case were collected and the epidemiological survey was conducted. The blood samples of the patient and the blood donor were detected by microscopy, rapid diagnostic test (RDT) and nested PCR, and the positive results were sequenced.

The patient did not visit malaria endemic areas and have no history of malaria infection, but have history of massive blood transfusion in surgical operation. The patient was confirmed as quartan malaria by microscopy with peripheral blood smears. The patient was transfused from three donors whose peripheral blood was none of malaria infection by microscopy, RDT and nested PCR. But sequence analysis showed that the amplified band of one donor was 100% homology to the patient' s with the improved nest-multi PCR examination.

This patient is confirmed of Plasmodium malariae infection via blood transfusion. Laboratory analysis and diagnosis of undefined malaria cases require multiple methods, and the improved nest-multi PCR could effectively detect the low parasitized malaria infection.