Absence of asymptomatic cases of malaria in a historically endemic indigenous locality of the department of caaguazú, paraguay: Moving toward elimination

Abstract

Introduction: Paraguay was among the 16 countries that reported zero indigenous malaria cases in 2014. Methods: A crosssectional observational descriptive study was performed in 100 adults from Santa Teresa, Paraguay. Parasite detection was carried out using seminested multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and microscopy. Results: Among the participants, 44% were female and 56% were male, and 89% had a malaria history. No parasites were detected with either of the methods. Conclusions: There were no asymptomatic cases in Santa Teresa, and this finding is very promising. A longitudinal study should be performed to confirm that there are no asymptomatic cases in this locality.