Evaluation of the Performance of Rapid Diagnostic Tests for Malaria Diagnosis and Mapping of Different Plasmodium Species in Mali

• Published in: International journal of environmental research and public health 2024-02, Vol.21 (2), p.228
• Main Authors: Dembélé, Pascal, Cissoko, Mady, Diarra, Adama Zan, Doumbia, Lassana, Koné, Aïssata, Magassa, Mahamadou H, Mehadji, Maissane, Thera, Mahamadou A, Ranque, Stéphane
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antigens; Bacteriology; Cardiology and cardiovascular system; Case management; Dehydrogenases; Diagnostic tests; Diagnostic Tests, Routine; Emerging diseases; Fatalities; Health facilities; Human health and pathology; Humans; Infectious diseases; Life Sciences; Malaria; Malaria - diagnosis; Malaria, Falciparum - diagnosis; Malaria, Vivax - epidemiology; Mali - epidemiology; Microbiology and Parasitology; Mortality; Parasitology; Plasmodium - genetics; Plasmodium vivax - genetics; Proteins; Public health; Rapid Diagnostic Tests; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; Sensitivity and Specificity; Virology
• ISSN: 1660-4601; 1661-7827; 1660-4601
• DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21020228

The first-line diagnosis of malaria in Mali is based on the use of rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) that detect the Histidin Rich Protein 2 (HRP2) antigen specific to . Our study, based on a real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) gold standard, aimed to describe the distribution of the species in each administrative region of Mali and to assess the performance of RDTs. We randomly selected 150 malaria-negative and up to 30 malaria-positive RDTs in 41 sites distributed in 9 regions of Mali. DNA extracted from the RDT nitrocellulose strip was assayed with a pan- qPCR. Positive samples were then analyzed with -, -, -, or -specific qPCRs. Of the 1496 RDTs, 258 (18.6%) were positive for spp., of which 96.9% were . The prevalence reached 21.1% in the north. RDT displayed acceptable diagnostic indices; the lower CI95% bounds of Youden indices were all ≥0.50, except in the north (Youden index 0.66 (95% CI [0.44-0.82]) and 0.63 (95% CI [0.33-0.83]. Overall, RDT diagnostic indices are adequate for the biological diagnosis of malaria in Mali. We recommend the use of RDTs detecting -specific antigens in the north.