Pallabi Pati, H.K. Khuntia, M S Bal and M.R. Ranjit*
Regional Medical Research Centre (ICMR), Bhubaneswar 751023, Odisha, India.
Received on 12 August 2016 and accepted on 28 September 2016
ABSTRACT
Since the launch of the Roll Back Malaria Initiative by WHO in 1998, and particularly in the past few years, malaria control has been intensified in endemic countries. As a consequence malaria is going to be eliminated in 34 countries in near future. The low levels of parasitaemia during the elimination phase possess a challenge to early diagnosis and prompt treatment of the disease at individual as well as community level because of low efficacy of microscopy and currently available RDTs. To tackle this situation loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) of nucleic acids seems to be a promising technique. We have optimized a LAMP assay using a new proportion of primer mix and DNA extracted by heat treatment that can detect P falciparum, P vivax and P malariae in naked eye by color distinction. The sensitivity and specificity of this assay is similar to the PCR assay and the detection limit of parasite is significantly high than the microscopy. The test can be performed by a technician at CHC level hospital in developing countries like India.
Keywords
LAMP, malaria, optimization, P falciparum, P vivax, P malariae