Sympatric distribution of Plasmodium ovale curtisi and P. ovale wallikeri in India: implication for the diagnosis of malaria and its control.

BACKGROUND: We report the first evidence of sympatric distribution of Plasmodium ovale curtisi and P. ovale wallikeri from India. METHODS: Fingerprick blood samples were collected from fever cases in district Bastar, Chhattisgarh State for malaria screening by microscopy and PCR. RESULTS: Two cases of mono infection of P. ovale, and a fatal case of cerebral malaria with a mixed infection of P. vivax, P. falciparum and P. ovale were confirmed by PCR. Sequencing analysis revealed the presence of P. ovale curtisi and P. ovale wallikeri. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the need of molecular diagnosis of malaria cases in forested areas for treatment and control.