Etiology of Malaria:
Plasmodium, commonly known as the malaria parasite, is a eukaryotic-single celled microscopic protozoan. Mainly four Plasmodium species are known to cause human malaria: Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium Malariae, Plasmodium ovale, and Plasmodium falciparum. Besides, Plasmodium knowlesi, causing lethal and febrile malaria in humans, is a recently identified malarial parasite usually found in Southeast Asia's forested regions.
Mode of Transmission of Malaria:
Malaria is an acute systemic infection transmitted to humans through an infected mosquito bite. Female Anopheles mosquito carrying infective sporozoites in its salivary gland feed on healthy humans with subsequent inoculation of sporozoites into the host bloodstream, followed by two-stage infection.
- Exo-erythrocytic phase: Injected Sporozoites migrate to the liver, penetrates and invade hepatocytes, replicate asexually and mature into schizonts. Upon rupture of hepatocytes releases merozoites into the bloodstream.
- Erythrocytic phase: Merozoites circulating in the bloodstream invade Red Blood Cells (RBCs) replicate sexually and mature to form gametocytes. Rupture of parasitic RBC releases gametocytes into the bloodstream with the release of a toxin called hemozoin resulting in arising signs and symptoms of the disease.
Clinical Presentation of Malaria:
Signs and symptoms of malaria typically arise 7-18 days after parasitic infection. Generalized weakness, high fever, moderate to severe chills, headache, vomiting, diarrhoea, and body aches are the common signs and symptoms of malaria. Additionally, patients experience profuse sweating as the body temperature falls. Despite the lack of an approved universal vaccination, timely diagnosis and early initiation of intensive antimalarial chemotherapy can assure a complete cure for the disease and prevent disease relapse in the future.
Clinical Diagnosis of Malaria:
Despite physical examination and travel history to the endemic malaria region, the definitive diagnosis of malaria is made by employing microscopic tests and non-microscopic malarial tests. Microscopic examination of the patient's blood smear stained with Giemsa stain yields parasitic confirmation, showing malarial parasite a distinctive appearance and hence considered as the gold standard for laboratory diagnosis of malaria.
On the other hand, non-microscopic tests are Rapid diagnostic test (RTD) that includes malaria Antigen test (Malaria Ag) and Malaria Real-time PCR (MDPCR). These tests detect antigens in blood to yield a quicker confirmation of disease and are used as an adjuvant for microscopic examination.
Insight to the Malaria Biospecimens We Offer:
Central BioHub offers biological research samples of malaria paired with detailed clinical data. We provide malaria infection samples that are ethically obtained from consented donors of every age, gender, and ethnicity with suspected or confirmed malaria. We offer human plasma, serum,whole blood, and urine samples from malaria patients that are incisively investigated for various routine malaria diagnostic tests such as malaria antigen test (Malaria Ag), malaria real-time PCR (MDPCR).
We provide invaluable access to our extensive biosample inventory to biomedical researchers across the globe. Ensuring strict adherence to quality and safety, all malaria blood samples and urine samples we provide are secured and stored in frozen conditions at <-18 °C and <-80 °C at our partner's biobanks.Researchers can choose the suitable sample from the Central BioHub biological sample inventory and buy them online. All biofluids are processed at Central BioHub under the declaration of Helsinki and the declaration of Taipei.
Register now for free and find the research specimen that best fits your needs by clicking on Clinical Diagnosis, ICD-10-CM codes, Matrix, and Laboratory Parameters.