Evidence map›Paper›PMID 31249999›Full record

ArticleThe Journal of infectious diseases2019

pfhrp2 and pfhrp3 Gene Deletions That Affect Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Tests for Plasmodium falciparum: Analysis of Archived Blood Samples From 3 African Countries.

Rebecca Thomson, Khalid B Beshir, Jane Cunningham, Frank Baiden, Jameel Bharmal, Katia J Bruxvoort, Catherine Maiteki-Sebuguzi, Seth Owusu-Agyei, Sarah G Staedke, Heidi Hopkins

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in The Journal of infectious diseases, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 48 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
48citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

48 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Trial
  4. Prevalence ofThe American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene · 2020
    Trial
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Article
  8. Article
  9. Review
  10. Local variability inMalariaWorld journal · 2026
    Article
  11. Article
  12. Article
  13. Article
  14. Article
  15. Article
  16. High Frequency of Deletions in theTropical medicine and infectious disease · 2024
    Article
  17. Article
  18. Article
  19. Article
  20. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Rebecca ThomsonLondon School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
Khalid B BeshirLondon School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
Jane CunninghamWorld Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
Frank BaidenLondon School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
Jameel BharmalLondon School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
Katia J BruxvoortLondon School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
Catherine Maiteki-SebuguziInfectious Disease Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda.
Seth Owusu-AgyeiLondon School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
Sarah G StaedkeLondon School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
Heidi HopkinsLondon School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.

Funding

Medical Research Council MR/K00736X/1Wellcome TrustWorld Health Organization 001
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMalaria rapid diagnostic tests (mRDTs) that target histidine-rich protein 2 (HRP2) are important tools for Plasmodium falciparum diagnosis. Parasites with pfhrp2/3 gene deletions threaten the use of these mRDTs and have been reported in Africa, Asia, and South America. We studied blood samples from 3 African countries to determine if these gene deletions were present.

methodsWe analyzed 911 dried blood spots from Ghana (n = 165), Tanzania (n = 176), and Uganda (n = 570). Plasmodium falciparum infection was confirmed by 18S rDNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and pfhrp2/3 genes were genotyped. True pfhrp2/3 gene deletions were confirmed if samples were (1) microscopy positive; (2) 18S rDNA PCR positive; (3) positive for merozoite surface protein genes by PCR or positive by loop-mediated isothermal amplification; or (4) quantitative PCR positive with >5 parasites/µL.

resultsNo pfhrp2/3 deletions were detected in samples from Ghana, but deletions were identified in Tanzania (3 pfhrp2; 2 pfhrp3) and Uganda (7 pfhrp2; 2 pfhrp3). Of the 10 samples with pfhrp2 deletions, 9 tested negative by HRP2-based mRDT.

conclusionsThe presence of pfhrp2/3 deletions in Tanzania and Uganda, along with reports of pfhrp2/3-deleted parasites in neighboring countries, reinforces the need for systematic surveillance to monitor the reliability of mRDTs in malaria-endemic countries.

Indexed as

Gene DeletionAdolescentAdultAgedAged, 80 and overAntigens, ProtozoanChildChild, PreschoolDiagnostic Tests, RoutineDNA, ProtozoanDNA, RibosomalFalse Negative ReactionsFemaleGenotypeGenotyping TechniquesGhanaAntigens, ProtozoanDNA, ProtozoanDNA, RibosomalHRP-2 antigen, Plasmodium falciparumHRP3 protein, Plasmodium falciparumProtozoan ProteinsRNA, Ribosomal, 18SdeletionGhanahistidinemalariamutationpfhrp2pfhrp3rapid diagnostic testTanzaniaUganda

Identifiers

PMID31249999
PMCPMC6761929

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.