MALARIAL PARASITES SPECIES

Abstract

To determine the pattern of malarial parasites species in Jacobabad District Sindh. Design: A retrospective observational study.Setting: This study was conducted at District Malarial control Centre Jacobabad with collaboration of pathology Department C.M.C Larkanaand Leishmaniasis / Mosquito Zoology Lab: University of Balochistan Quetta. Period: One year 2005. Patients & Methods: During the studyperiod blood smears were prepared from the suspected cases of malaria. The suspected cases with fever referred from various areas ofJacobabad District by General Practitioners, Basic Health Units, Rural Health Centres and Taluka Hospital were included in the study forconformation of malaria. The parasites were identified by using Giemsa stained thick and thin smears. Results: During the study period total of58,989 blood smears were examined irrespective of age and sex and were conformed for malarial parasites, giving over all positivity rate of0.91% (540 cases). Plasmodium falciparum was identified in 154 (28.52%) and Plasmodium vivax in 386 (71.48%) cases. Conclusions: Thepositive cases for malarial parasites were 0.91% and Plasmodium vivax found as most predominant species in the region.