Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40048437›Full record

ArticlePloS one2025

Unveiling the silent threat: Investigating asymptomatic plasmodium infections in Gorgora, Ethiopia through microscopy and loop-mediated isothermal amplification.

Tena Cherkos, Adane Derso, Banchamlak Tegegne, Abebe Birhanu, Kassahun Cherkos, Zufan Yiheyis Abreham, Banchayehu Getnet, Tsedenya Gebeyehu, Mulat Yimer, Tegegne Eshetu and 4 more

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Article in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
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

14 authors.

Tena CherkosDepartment of Medical Parasitology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0003-3717-3722
Adane DersoDepartment of Medical Parasitology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Banchamlak TegegneAmhara Public Health Institute, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.
Abebe BirhanuDepartment of Medical Microbiology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0005-0363-3254
Kassahun CherkosDepartment of Physiotherapy, School of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Zufan Yiheyis AbrehamDepartment of Medical Parasitology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Banchayehu GetnetDepartment of Medical Parasitology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Tsedenya GebeyehuDepartment of Quality Assurance and Laboratory Management, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Mulat YimerDepartment of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.
Tegegne EshetuDepartment of Medical Parasitology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Wossenseged LemmaDepartment of Medical Parasitology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Aberham AbereDepartment of Medical Parasitology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Yalewayker TegegneDepartment of Medical Parasitology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5306-6175
Dylan R PillaiDepartment of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medicine, and Microbiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe asymptomatic carriers of the Plasmodium parasite represent a large hidden reservoir of Plasmodium species. These individuals can carry microscopically detectable levels and sub-microscopic levels of Plasmodium parasitemia. As a result, the use of clinical diagnostic methods, such as Rapid Diagnosis Tests (RDTs) and Giemsa microscopy leads to underestimation of the burden of asymptomatic malaria. Thus, the use of highly sensitive molecular methods such as loop-mediated isothermal amplification techniques (LAMP) helps to overcome these limitations and is crucial to reporting the true burden of the disease.

objectiveThis study aimed to determine the prevalence of Asymptomatic Plasmodium infections (APIs), and evaluate light microscopy for the detection of APIs using the LAMP method as a reference in Gorgora, Western Dembia district, Northwest Ethiopia.

methodA community-based cross-sectional survey was carried out from May 17 to June 30, 2023, among households located in particular kebeles at Gorgora. The study participants were chosen using a multi-stage sampling technique. One Hundred Fifteen households and one household member from each household were selected using systematic random and simple random sampling techniques, respectively. To gather sociodemographic data, semi-structured questionnaires were used. Capillary blood samples were obtained from each study participant and screened for Plasmodium species infections using a LAMP kit and light microscopy. The data were entered into Epi Data version 4.6 and exported to SPSS version 25 for analysis.

resultsThe prevalence of APIs through light microscopy examination and LAMP analysis was 6.1% (95%CI: 2.5-12.1) and 11.3% (95%CI: 6.2-18.6) respectively. Using LAMP as a reference, the sensitivity and specificity of microscopy were 53.8% and 100% respectively. Microscopy examination missed six Plasmodium infections that were positive by LAMP analysis. A measure of agreement between LAMP and Microscopy was found to be 0.67(k = 0.67).

conclusionsA significant proportion of APIs was found which likely act as a reservoir of transmission. This study also showed a significant number of APIs were missed by microscopy techniques. Thus, efforts to control and eliminate malaria should also consider these sub-microscopic infections.

Indexed as

Asymptomatic InfectionsMalariaMicroscopyMolecular Diagnostic TechniquesNucleic Acid Amplification TechniquesPlasmodiumAdolescentAdultChildChild, PreschoolCross-Sectional StudiesEthiopiaFemaleHumansMaleMiddle Aged

Identifiers

PMID40048437
PMCPMC11884716

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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.