Detection of Plasmodium falciparum in pregnancy by laser desorption mass spectrometry
Nyunt, M.; Pisciotta, J.; Feldman, A.B.; Thuma, P.; Scholl, P.F.; Demirev, P.A.; Lin, J.S.; Shi, L.; Kumar, N.; Sullivan, D.J.
American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 73(3): 485-490
2005
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-9637 PMID: 16172468 Document Number: 256301
Detection of P. falciparum malaria during pregnancy is complicated by sequestration of parasites in the placenta, which reduces peripheral blood microscopic detection. Laser desorption mass spectrometry (LDMS) has previously demonstrated sensitive detection of haemozoin from P. falciparum blood cultures and the ability to track parasitaemia in a P. yoelii malaria mouse model. Here, we use a simple, dilution in water, blood sample preparation protocol for LDMS detection of malaria in 45 asymptomatic pregnant women from Zambia during March-June 2003. We compare LDMS to microscopy and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. All women were microscopy negative. LDMS detected P. falciparum haemozoin in 15 out of 45 women, while PCR results were positive in 25 women. Compared with PCR, which analysed 20-30 micro l of blood, the sensitivity of LDMS, which analysed <1 micro l of blood, was 52%, with a specificity of 92%. LDMS is a potentially rapid and more sensitive alternate diagnostic method than microscopy for detection of P. falciparum during pregnancy.