The follow-up of treatment process of malaria by real-time PCR: in vivo model

Objective: Although the gold standard method for diagnosis of malaria and follow-up of the patient is accepted as microscopy, an experienced staff is required for accurate diagnosis and patient follow-up by microscopy. Therefore, it is very important to confirm the diagnosis with a method to support the microscopy method. In our study, it was aimed to investigate the suitability of the use of Real Time PCR, as well as microscopic methods, following the treatment of the malaria. Materials and Methods: In our study, 5 groups of 5 male Balb/c mice were formed in each group. Each mouse was intraperitoneally infected with 107 / ml Plasmodium berghei parasites. The mice in the first, second and third groups received 50 mg/kg/day of chloroquine treatment one day, two days and three days respectively, 2 days after the day of infection. The fourth group of rats was not treated and the fifth group of rats was given saline treatment for three days. The parasitemia state was checked for 21 days by checking the blood preparations made from the tail end of the mice and searching the parasite DNA by Real Time PCR. Results: When the results were evaluated, I, II, IV. and V. group, and Real Time PCR results are positive. III. group mice were found to be positive on the 5th and 7th day of the preparation, and the subsequent preparations were evaluated as negative. Real Time PCR results showed positive on day 7, but no parasite DNA was detected on other days. Conclusions: When the method of microscopy and Real Time PCR is compared, it is seen that both methods give parallel results. The use of the Real Time PCR method in conjunction with the microscopy method has led to the conclusion that different methods should be used to support each other in the diagnosis of malaria.