[Laboratory analysis of the first case of imported oval malaria in Rizhao City]

To diagnose the first imported case of Plasmodium ovale infection by laboratory detection.

The epidemiological data and blood samples of the case were collected, and the samples were detected by the microscopic examination, rapid diagnostic test (RDT) and nested PCR.

The patient was a construction worker backing from Congo, Africa. He experienced the symptoms of irregular fever and weakness one month after returning in Lingyang Town, Junxian County. The results of RDT only suggested no-Plasmodium falciparum infection. Under the microscope, it was seen that the infected RBC were obviously disfigured and in irregular shape, the ring forms were thick and big, and also thick granulas in big trophozoite stage and schizont stage were found. The results of PCR showed that the size of amplified product was about 800 bp, which was conformed to that of P. ovale.

Though microscopic examination is the golden standard for malaria diagnosis, as P. ovale is difficult to be identified under microscope, the microscopic method combined with PCR test can be used for definite diagnosis.