Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38167003›Full record

ArticleMalaria journal2024

Limited threat of Plasmodium falciparum pfhrp2 and pfhrp3 gene deletion to the utility of HRP2-based malaria RDTs in Northern Uganda.

Bosco B Agaba, David Smith, Jye Travis, Cielo Pasay, Monica Nabatanzi, Emmanuel Arinaitwe, Isaac Ssewanyana, Susan Nabadda, Jane Cunningham, Moses R Kamya and 1 more

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Malaria journal, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing papers in PubMed
6.0field-weighted citation impact, top 4% of its field
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

8 citing papers in PubMed, 11 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
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  3. Review
  4. Local variability inMalariaWorld journal · 2026
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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

11 authors at 6 institutions in 3 countries.

Bosco B AgabaFaculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda. bagaba2011@gmail.com.
David SmithQIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Kelvin Grove, QLD, Australia.
Jye TravisQIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Kelvin Grove, QLD, Australia.
Cielo PasayQIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Kelvin Grove, QLD, Australia.
Monica NabatanziNational Malaria Control Division, Kampala, Uganda.
Emmanuel ArinaitweInfectious Diseases Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda.
Isaac SsewanyanaInfectious Diseases Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda.
Susan NabaddaNational Health Laboratory Services/Central Public Health Laboratories, Kelvin Grove, Uganda.
Jane CunninghamGlobal Malaria Programme, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
Moses R KamyaFaculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda.
Qin ChengQIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Kelvin Grove, QLD, Australia.
Department of Defence · AUInfectious Diseases Research Collaboration · UGMbarara University of Science and Technology · UGMalaria Consortium · UGQIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute · AUWorld Health Organization · CH

Funding

World Health Organization 001
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundRapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) that detect Plasmodium falciparum histidine-rich protein-2 (PfHRP2) are exclusively deployed in Uganda, but deletion of the pfhrp2/3 target gene threatens their usefulness as malaria diagnosis and surveillance tools.

methodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted at 40 sites across four regions of Uganda in Acholi, Lango, W. Nile and Karamoja from March 2021 to June 2023. Symptomatic malaria suspected patients were recruited and screened with both HRP2 and pan lactate dehydrogenase (pLDH) detecting RDTs. Dried blood spots (DBS) were collected from all patients and a random subset were used for genomic analysis to confirm parasite species and pfhrp2 and pfhrp3 gene status. Plasmodium species was determined using a conventional multiplex PCR while pfhrp2 and pfhrp3 gene deletions were determined using a real-time multiplex qPCR. Expression of the HRP2 protein antigen in a subset of samples was further assessed using a ELISA.

resultsOut of 2435 symptomatic patients tested for malaria, 1504 (61.8%) were positive on pLDH RDT. Overall, qPCR confirmed single pfhrp2 gene deletion in 1 out of 416 (0.2%) randomly selected samples that were confirmed of P. falciparum mono-infections.

conclusionThese findings show limited threat of pfhrp2/3 gene deletions in the survey areas suggesting that HRP2 RDTs are still useful diagnostic tools for surveillance and diagnosis of P. falciparum malaria infections in symptomatic patients in this setting. Periodic genomic surveillance is warranted to monitor the frequency and trend of gene deletions and its effect on RDTs.

Indexed as

MalariaMalaria, FalciparumAntigens, ProtozoanCross-Sectional StudiesDiagnostic Tests, RoutineGene DeletionHumansL-Lactate DehydrogenasePlasmodium falciparumProtozoan ProteinsRapid Diagnostic TestsUgandaAntigens, ProtozoanHRP-2 antigen, Plasmodium falciparumHRP3 protein, Plasmodium falciparumL-Lactate DehydrogenaseProtozoan ProteinsHistidine rich proteinMalariapfhrp2 and pfhrp3 Gene deletionPlasmodium falciparumRapid diagnostic tests

Identifiers

PMID38167003
PMCPMC10759665
OpenAlexW4390493011

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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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.