Travel-Related Malaria Diagnosis on Karius Test Despite Negative Blood Smear

Malaria remains a considerable challenge to international health, especially in returning travelers from endemic regions where exposure risk may be downplayed. Prompt and accurate diagnosis is crucial, especially when conventional diagnostic techniques are insufficient. This case report presents a 59-year-old man who developed fever, rash, and myalgia after returning from the Amazon rainforest. Initial laboratory tests demonstrated leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, transaminitis, and hyperbilirubinemia. Despite these abnormal results and a clinically suspicious presentation, malaria smears were negative. Since the symptoms did not resolve, a Karius test-a plasma-based microbial cell-free DNA sequencing assay-successfully detected the presence of Plasmodium vivax, thus establishing the diagnosis. The patient needed several treatment regimens for the recurrent attacks, including chloroquine and primaquine, artemether-lumefantrine, and eventually a combination of quinine and doxycycline together with a prolonged course of primaquine. His symptoms resolved completely after the last treatment regimen, along with the normalization of the blood counts and liver function tests. This case demonstrates the limitations of smear microscopy diagnosis in P. vivax infections, highlights the role of molecular diagnostics like the Karius test, and stresses the importance of preventing relapses with adequate hypnozoite clearance. It further highlights the importance of clinician awareness and diligent follow-up in cases of travel-related Malaria, especially those with unusual presentations or recurrent symptoms.