Absence of Asymptomatic Malaria Infection in Endemic Area of Bashagard District, Hormozgan Province, Iran

Background: A successful malaria elimination program calls for enough attention to parasite carri-ers, especially asymptomatic malaria, as well as the diagnosis and treatment of clinical cases. Asymptomatic malaria is an infection that patients do not show any symptom; thus, these patients play critical role in the concept of an elimination program. The current investigation was con-ducted to evaluate the presence of these cases in Bashagard District, formerly a high malaria transmis-sion area in Hormozgan Province, Iran.Methods: Blood samples (n=500) were collected from symptomless individuals residing in Basha-gard to evaluate Plasmodium infection by using microscopic, serological and nested-PCR techniques.Results: Regarding the microscopic and nested-PCR analysis, no asymptomatic infection was detected among studied individuals. Totally, 1% of the studied population (5 of 500) had anti PvMSP-119-specific IgG antibody; however, only 0.2% (1 of 500) of the individuals was seroposi-tive to recombinant PfMSP-119, using ELISA.Conclusion: This study showed no asymptomatic malaria infection in the studied population; hence malaria elimination is feasible and can be successfully carried out in this region.